FAMILY STUDY OF AUTISM
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Towards an understanding of the genetic basis of autism and related disorders
DO YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD WITH AUTISM,
PDD OR ASPERGER SYNDROME?
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
WHERE WILL THESE ACTlVITIES TAKE PLACE?
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
WHOM DO I CONTACT?
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Researchers at the University of Washington are investigating the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders. There is increasing evidence that autism may be one of the most strongly genetically based of all complex developmental disorders, most likely involving several genes. Identification of the genetic contributors to autism holds great promise for the eventual discovery of a medical treatment for the disorder. This research is funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Your participation in this project may help us to better understand the causes of autism, and this could eventually lead to better diagnosis and treatment. Please consider helping us in this important effort to understand the cause of autism.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
If you live in the United States or Canada, and your family includes 2 or more children with autism, PDD, or Asperger Syndrome, and you are interested in participating in this study, we will need to talk with you over the phone or in person, conduct a free diagnostic session and physical exam with each of your children, and draw a small amount of blood from you and your children. Travel and other expenses involved in participating in the study will be covered by us.
WHERE WILL THESE ACTlVITIES TAKE PLACE?
If you live in Washington State, all activities will take place at the Center on Human Development and Disability on the University of Washington campus. Testing sites are also located at collaborating universities in Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Tennessee, and Florida, as well as elsewhere in the country.
Some of you may know of other families who qualify for our study. Please tell them about this site or email them our URL (address) so that they may contact us if they wish.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
We are interested in contacting families with 2 children with autism, PDD, or Asperger Syndrome who live in the United States or Canada. Participating families will receive free diagnostic and medical evaluations. Travel and hotel costs will be covered by the study.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
University of Washington
and
Gerard Schellenberg, PhD.
Research Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Washington
WHOM DO I CONTACT?
Cathy Brock, project coordinator is available to answer all your questions and talk with you further about our Family Study of Autism. Please feel free to call her collect at the number below. You may also contact her by email or FAX.
If you would like to leave us your name so that we may contact you, please click here
Cathy Brock
UW Family Study of Autism
University of Washington
Center on Human Development and Disability
Box 357920
Seattle, WA 98195
Phone 1-800-994-9701
Fax (206) 543-5771
Email: cbrock@u.washington.edu
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UW Family Study of Autism
Related Sites and Information on Autism
The Early Development Study
More Information on UW Research on Autism (from CHDD Outlook, Vol. 10 #2)
Last updated: Aug. 1, 2002.