Research: Funded Projects

Human genomes differ from one another in many respects.

Autism appears to be caused by aberrant synapses, or connections between brain cells.

Few robust biomarkers have been identified for autism, and there are no medications that treat the social deficits associated with the disorder.

Disruption in the number and function of brain synapses — the connections between neurons — is a central feature in the development of autism and associated cognitive disabilities.

Immune system activity in the central nervous system (CNS) has been implicated in numerous neuroinflammatory diseases.

Rett syndrome involves a number of developmental deficits similar to those observed in autism, including dysregulated motor movements, communication skills and cognitive processes.

Autism is a deeply complex and poorly understood developmental brain disorder.

Children with autism have been shown to display an increased latency of auditory processing, as measured by the electroencephalography (EEG) response to a sound as well as differences …

One of the core symptoms of autism is impaired interpretation of social cues and abnormal emotional responses to social cues.

Deficits in social behaviors are a core aspect of autism and can be quite debilitating.

Significant progress has been made in recent years in identifying genetic factors contributing to autism.

The core set of behavioral symptoms that define autism spectrum disorders can arise from a wide array of genetic and environmental causes.

Major progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders.

Several loci, or stretches of chromosomal DNA, have been shown to be defective in individuals with autism.

Despite the diversity and the rising prevalence of diagnosed cases of autism, the etiology of the disorder remains an open question.

Among the many interesting findings emerging from studies of de novo mutations in the Simons Simplex Collection has been the extreme degree of genetic heterogeneity that underlies autism …

The diverse genetic variations associated with autism are thought to affect molecular networks, which have yet to be identified.

Since 2008, Abba Krieger, Andreas Buja and their colleagues in the statistics department at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania have carried out various statistical analyses …

One of the most common genetic causes of autism is the loss or duplication of a small region on human chromosome 16 known as 16p11.2.

Advanced paternal age has been linked to a higher incidence of autism in children, but the reasons for this association are not known.

The mission of the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is to accelerate autism spectrum disorder research in order to improve the lives of people living with this disorder.

Deletion of the 16p11.2 chromosomal region is one of the most common causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developmental delay.

Prenatal and early-life infections and associated febrile and immune responses may contribute to autism by regulating brain maturation and central nervous system function.

People with autism spectrum disorders have more mutations in their DNA than do their unaffected siblings.

Inflammation during pregnancy has been suggested as a possible contributing factor in the development of autism spectrum disorders in children.

In addition to problems in communication and social interaction, and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors, individuals with autism frequently exhibit altered sensory function.

Shared exposure to environmental factors appears to have a more prominent role in autism than genetics does.

One of the most important steps in postnatal brain development is the formation of the connections between neurons, known as synapses.

Rhode Island is emerging as a national leader in innovative, integrated research and treatment for autism spectrum disorders.

Imprinted genes are an unusual class of genes that preferentially express either the maternally or paternally inherited gene copy in the child.

Matthew Goodwin and his colleagues at Northeastern University in Boston and the Georgia Institute of Technology are working to develop a mobile system for recording behavior and physiology …

Autism spectrum disorders represent a complex set of neurodevelopmental disorders that involve a combination of many different genes and environmental factors and affect multiple parts of the brain.

Autism spectrum disorders comprise a wide constellation of neurobehavioral conditions that arise from abnormal patterns of brain development.

Clinicians rely on a triad of behavioral characteristics for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders: impaired social interaction, impaired language and communication, and restricted interests and repetitive movements.

Yehezkel Ben-Ari and his colleagues at the Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (Inmed) in Marseille, France, showed several years ago that neurons recorded in newly born …

The brain consists of two main types of cells, neurons and glia.

The most prevalent genetic form of mental retardation, fragile X syndrome, is a single-gene disorder leading to loss of the RNA-binding protein FMRP.

One of the most common symptoms shared among the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is difficulty with social interaction.

Duplication of a small segment of human chromosome 7 has been found in some children with autism.

Lauren Weiss and her colleagues used a ‘pathway’ approach — looking at a group of genes connected in a defined biological pathway — to investigate the role of the RAS …

Genetic alterations in the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) genes, key mediators of protein synthesis, are strongly associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Behavioral deficits observed in autism can be grouped into four clusters: physiological and neurological health; arousal, anxiety, and regulatory systems; social interaction and communication; and behavioral inflexibility and …

Mutations in different types of chromatin regulators are associated with autism.

Findings from autism genetics and the study of animal models of autism suggest that some biochemical pathways are commonly affected in people with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndromes characterized by repetitive behaviors and deficits in language development and social interaction.

Epilepsy and epileptiform encephalogram (EEG) abnormalities are common comorbidities in autism spectrum disorders.

The human protocadherin (PCDH) gene clusters (PCDH-alpha, -beta and -gamma) encode a family of cell surface proteins that function in cell-to-cell interaction during the development …

Autism spectrum disorders represent a major cause of disability both in the U.S.