The goal of the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) is to conduct basic research on genetics, brain structure and function, and behavioral development as well as experimental interventions in order to understand the biological bases and possible environmental remedies for core deficits in autism. The central theme of the UCLA CART is on the elucidation of the etiology of social, communicative, and language deficits in autism, and the second theme is on the design and testing of experimental interventions.
The specific aims of the CART research are to 1) Identify the abilities and characteristics, both behavioral and genetic, which differentiate the infant siblings of children with autism from siblings of developmentally delayed and typically developing siblings and predict the later manifestations of autistic symptoms; 2) Determine the neural pathways used by children with autism and typically developing children in understanding prosody and language; 3) Implement and compare the effects of intervention projects aimed at ameliorating behavioral disturbances and improving interactions with family members, peers, and friends; and 4) Define the genetic contributions to autism by studying component cognitive and behavioral endophenotypes and performing specific genotype - phenotype correlations, thereby, laying the groundwork for future pharmacogenetic studies. Besides providing resources to the projects, each Core will have a unique educational component. The Administrative-Database Core will contain a Pilot Program; the Imaging Core will develop means for teaching their techniques to a wider group of autism researchers; and the Assessment and Outreach Core will organize an educational program for Center members as well as for the community groups with whom we are cooperating.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Specialized Center--Cooperative Agreements (U54)
Project #
3U54MH068172-01S1
Application #
6804384
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Zalcman, Steven J
Project Start
2003-05-13
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2003-05-13
Budget End
2004-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$457,500
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
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Charman, Tony; Young, Gregory S; Brian, Jessica et al. (2017) Non-ASD outcomes at 36 months in siblings at familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A baby siblings research consortium (BSRC) study. Autism Res 10:169-178
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Anderson, Ariana; Locke, Jill; Kretzmann, Mark et al. (2016) Social network analysis of children with autism spectrum disorder: Predictors of fragmentation and connectivity in elementary school classrooms. Autism 20:700-9
Tsang, Tawny; Gillespie-Lynch, Kristen; Hutman, Ted (2016) Theory of Mind Indexes the Broader Autism Phenotype in Siblings of Children with Autism at School Age. Autism Res Treat 2016:6309189
Messinger, Daniel S; Young, Gregory S; Webb, Sara Jane et al. (2016) Commentary: sex difference differences? A reply to Constantino. Mol Autism 7:31
Miller, Meghan; Iosif, Ana-Maria; Young, Gregory S et al. (2016) School-age outcomes of infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 9:632-42
Abels, Monika; Hutman, Ted (2015) Infants' behavioral styles in joint attention situations and parents' socio-economic status. Infant Behav Dev 40:139-50
Miller, Meghan; Young, Gregory S; Hutman, Ted et al. (2015) Early pragmatic language difficulties in siblings of children with autism: implications for DSM-5 social communication disorder? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 56:774-81
Dean, Michelle; Kasari, Connie; Shih, Wendy et al. (2014) The peer relationships of girls with ASD at school: comparison to boys and girls with and without ASD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 55:1218-25

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