How the Brain Learns to Ignore Noise, and Why This Mechanism Fails in Autism-Related Disorders  2026 Award: $109,932 Many individuals with autism experience sensory overload, where everyday sounds such as traffic or cafeteria noise can remain intrusive, making it hard to follow speech in noise. In this project, we will study how the brain learns to filter out irrelevant background sound, and how these mechanisms may be disrupted in a mouse model related to autism. Findings in the simple mouse brain should provide a first step toward understanding, and ultimately treating, the sensory difficulties that affect daily life for people with autism.  Need/Problem: Around 90% of individuals with ASD experience atypical sensory responses, and difficulty understanding speech in noise can be especially disabling. To develop future interventions, we need to understand the brain mechanisms that normally allow us to [...]

Clinical Profiles and Biological Mechanisms of Older Autistic Adults 2026 Award: $200,000 Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition, nearly all ASD research has focused on children, and almost no research has included older autistic adults. Older autistic adults have a far higher risk for parkinsonism that leads to worse psychosocial, physical health, cognitive, and mental health outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the link between parkinsonism and ASD have not been studied. Need/Problem: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition, nearly all ASD research has focused on children, and almost no research has included older autistic adults. Thus, there is almost no knowledge of: (1) psychiatric comorbidities in the aging subset of the autistic population, (2) evidence-based psychiatric care for aging autistic individuals; or (3) training needs for service providers of this population. There [...]

Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics in Infants Later Diagnosed with ASD: Implications for Early Diagnosis and Treatment Development 2025 Award: $51,690 Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that circulates through the nervous system, playing a key role in brain development, nutrient delivery, and immune surveillance. Infants who are later diagnosed with autism often show an increase in CSF volume, but the causes of this increase remain unknown. In this project, we will investigate how CSF moves in the brains of these infants using advanced MRI techniques. Tracking early changes in CSF dynamics may reveal important biomarkers and enhance our understanding of how disrupted CSF motion contributes to autism. These findings will be a critical first step toward developing earlier diagnostic tools and targeted interventions. Need/Problem: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that circulates through the nervous system, supporting brain [...]

Expediting access to autism specific intervention for young autistic children living in rural North Carolina: a pilot study 2025 Award: $53,800 Long delays to diagnosis and treatment are unfortunately common for many families with autistic toddlers, especially those living in rural areas. Our study investigates whether a systems-focused intervention can reduce these treatment delays and improve developmental outcomes for young children with autism. Join us in advancing faster, more effective, and family-centered autism care. Need/Problem: Early diagnosis of autism is important, however, it must be followed by starting autism-specific treatments quickly to help children meet their developmental goals. Unfortunately, many families, especially those in rural areas, face long delays in getting these treatments due to a lack of specialists, travel difficulties, and less awareness about autism service availability. We need a family-centered approach to help these families overcome these [...]

Predicting ASD comorbid Anxiety in Early Childhood via Multi-modality MRI 2025 Award: $59,102 Can the structure of a child's brain predict their risk for developing anxiety? Our groundbreaking study harnesses the power of deep learning to decode the complex relationship between brain architecture and anxiety vulnerability in children with autism. By analyzing cortical morphometry and white matter microstructure, we aim to identify neuroimaging biomarkers that could revolutionize early detection and intervention strategies. This research bridges a critical knowledge gap in understanding how brain structure relates to anxiety in early childhood autism, potentially transforming how we approach mental health care in neurodevelopmental disorders. Need/Problem: Research shows changes in brain networks and structure in adults with autism who have anxiety or ADHD, but we know very little about how brain structure relates to anxiety in young children with autism. The high [...]

Establishing the Validity of a Wearable Technology of Objective Arousal Measurements Across Development 2023 Award: $40,000 Atypical sensory reactivity is reported by parents in pre-symptomatic infants that go on to develop ASD. We propose to validate a practical, wearable technology that simultaneously measures arousal in response to well-controlled stimuli and lays the foundation for future studies measuring arousal in naturalistic contexts. The results from this study have the potential to facilitate pre-symptomatic interventions and new screening options for infants at elevated likelihood for developing autism. Need/Problem: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects socialization, communication, and daily living skills. Symptoms of ASD emerge gradually over the first few years of life, though the average age of a diagnosis of ASD is older than 4 years. Prior to the first symptom emergence of ASD (e.g. decreases in [...]

Data Driven Brain Shape Analysis Framework and Explainable AI 2022 Award: $66,691 Specific shape aspects are associated with individual differences in cognitive function in children and adults as well as abnormality in many neuropsychiatric disorders. In this project, we will investigate brain shape and reveal specific characteristics for different neuropsychiatric disorders. Our approach is based on multi-view and neural network interpretability techniques. Need/Problem: The overarching goal of this proposal is to develop deep learning techniques for brain shape analysis. We need to investigate, identify, and implement better approaches that will help us make predictions about health outcomes as well as improve early diagnosis of mental health disorders. Grant Summary: Brain shape analysis has been researched extensively and we know that specific shape aspects of the White Matter (WM) are associated with individual differences in cognitive function in children and [...]

Circuit-level investigation of global hypoconnectivity in the sensory neocortex of a mouse model for autism 2022 Award: $40,092 In addition to the well-known social communication difficulties, autistic patients frequently suffer from sensory processing problems, such as sensory overload. In this project, we will investigate neural circuit alterations that affect sensory responses, using a preclinical mouse model for autism. Findings in the simple mouse brain should provide a first step toward understanding circuit mechanisms underlying broad sensory symptoms in autistic patients. Need/Problem: Atypical behavioral responses to sensory inputs, such as sensory overload and hypersensitivity, are observed in around 90% of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients, and developing treatments for this is critically needed to reduce the burden on patients and their families. Grant Summary: To identify the circuit alterations causing sensory processing problems in ASD, we will focus on a preclinical [...]

A Stimulus PET/MR Study of Gender Differences in Neuroinflammation in Autism 2020 Award: $50,000 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts the functioning of brain regions that process social information, but the reasons for this are unclear. In this project we will examine whether inflammation in brain regions that process social information contributes to social impairments in ASD and whether there are sex differences in brain inflammation in ASD. Results will indicate whether treatments that impact inflammation may be beneficial for those with ASD. Need/Problem: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous disorder that affects 1 in 54 individuals and confers a lifelong burden to most affected individuals and their families. The brain basis of ASD remains poorly understood. Grant Summary: We will use combined positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain imaging to examine whether [...]

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Governing Cortical Surface Area Overgrowth in iPSC-derived Neural Cells from Longitudinally Characterized Autism Individuals 2018 Award: $49,720 Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder exhibit larger brain volumes early in life. By mimicking and studying brain cells from subjects with ASD and subjects without ASD, Dr. Hazlett and her team are working to determine the underlying pathologies of brain overgrowth. These results will help identify biological markers which will inform more personalized early treatments for ASD. Need/Problem: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous disorder that affects 1 in 68 individuals, and confers a lifelong burden to most affected individuals and their families. ASD has been consistently characterized by early brain overgrowth in neuroimaging studies. Grant Summary: We will generate and study neural cells from individuals with ASD and matched controls who have been profiled [...]