Using a mobile app to help children with autism manage challenging behaviors
Official title: Reducing Challenging Behaviors In Children With Autism Through Digital Health
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10657558 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly mobile app to help kids with autism manage tough behaviors by tracking their heart rate and stress levels, making it easier for them and their families to understand what triggers these behaviors and how to cope better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 17, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $179,874 |
| NIH project number | 5K01MH120509-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10657558 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who exhibit challenging behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have autism spectrum disorder or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test a mobile health application designed to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manage challenging behaviors by measuring physiological stress indicators. The app will utilize heart rate data to identify emotional dysregulation, which can lead to these behaviors. By understanding triggers and providing real-time support, the app seeks to improve communication and coping strategies for children and their families. The project will involve interviews with parents and educators to ensure the app meets their needs and is user-friendly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide children with autism and their families a valuable tool to reduce challenging behaviors and improve overall well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using digital health interventions to manage behavioral challenges in children with autism, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nuske, Heather J — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Nuske, Heather J
Related research
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Duke Autism Center of Excellence: digital health and biomarkers for early autism screening and tracking
A Duke program is building digital tools to screen for autism early, track outcomes, and discover biomarkers to guide clinical trials for young children.
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Digital tools to spot and track autism early in toddlers
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Duke Autism Center: digital tools for early detection and monitoring of autism
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Neural roots of how autistic adults understand word meaning
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Aiming to understand how sleep problems and daily activity patterns affect brain growth, thinking skills, daily functioning, and autism symptoms in children.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.