Dr. Abigail Hogan presented her poster on Neural Processing in Fragile X Syndrome and Autism to the CAS Board of Visitors on December 2, 2016. It was an honor to present the experimental design of our NIH-funded preschool grant to a governing body of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Graduate Students Sara Matherly and Jordan Ezell will be presenting on the Challenges and benefits to identifying and treating anxiety in youth with autism spectrum Disorders at the SC Autism Society conference on Friday, November 4th, 2016!
The High Risk Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC) is a group consisting of 25 accomplished scientists, which represent 21 research institutions in the United States, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom. At their most recent meeting this October in San Diego CA, Dr. Jane Roberts presented a paper entitled: Autism Features in Infants with Fragile X. It was an honor to be a part of the collaborative effort across many research sites to discover the earliest signs of ASD, its early risk factors, and new methods for early diagnosis.
We are recruiting children who have been diagnosed with Autism!
Who can take part in this study: Children 30-42 months diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and a developmental delay.
What will participation involve: Completing some interviews and questionnaires about your thoughts and experiences as well as your child’s development. Yearly in person assessments of mom and child at your home. Participants will be compensated for their time and receive a brief report of their child’s development.
How will this project help families: This information would enable us to support all families affected by neuro-developmental disorders by promoting earlier diagnosis, treatment and support.
How can I get more information: Please contact Ms. Jessica Escorcia via email ([email protected]) or phone (803-777- 5676). You may also visit our recruitment page.
In September 2016, Dr. Jane Roberts was awarded funding by the National Institute of Mental Health for the project entitled: Emergence, Stability and Predictors of Anxiety in Fragile X Syndrome. It is the first longitudinal developmental study of the early features of anxiety in very young boys with FXS contrasted to boys diagnosed with ASD (non-FXS) and typical controls. The study analyzes the age which initial features of anxiety can be detected and the stability and prognostic value of these early symptoms. Our lab is eager to start work on this exciting new project!!
In 2011, Dr. Roberts was the recipient of a five year NIH R01 grant entitled “Emergence and Stability of Autism in Fragile X Syndrome.” In this study, Dr. Roberts and her team analyzed the behavior of infants who were at high risk for developing autism. She has now been awarded 3.1 million dollars from NIH to follow-up of these infants and track their development into their preschool years! With this new award, the team at the Neurodevelopmental Lab will be able to follow the development of the infants from 9 months-of-age to 5 years-of-age and identify which features during infancy were predictive of developmental delays in the infants at high risk for developmental impairments. This information will then be translated to efforts targeting early identification and treatment.
Jessi Scherr has accepted a two -year postdoctoral research fellowship at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio specializing in clinical research of assessment and treatment practices of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Her research interests include the examination of biobehavioral factors related to development, social-emotional functioning, and cognition. Contratulations Jessi!!
Alexis Ruber received a Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) award. Alexis will examine eye contact during a social interaction among mothers of children with fragile X syndrome and mothers of children with autism. The study also aims to examine the relationship between sympathetic arousal, measured by skin conductance, and eye contact in these groups. Congratulations, Alexis!
Our list of publications and presentations for 2015 has been updated based on our activities over the past year. Check out any of the links to see what we’ve been researching!
Alexis Brewe was named a Magellan scholar in Spring 2015 and awarded a grant for her project on analyzing social play behaviors, such as “showing” and initiating joint attention, as early indicators of autism in high-risk infants. Congratulations, Alexis!
Learn how you can take part in our research
