Infant Brain Imaging Study
Funded by the National Institutes of Health

What is the purpose of this study?

Drs. Stephen R. Dager and Annette Estes, researchers at the University of Washington, want to learn more about brain development in young siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The information gained in this study may improve methods of early detection, improve intervention for infants who may be at risk for developing autism, and lead to better outcome for young children and their families.

What does participation in the study mean?

• Developmental assessments at the University of Washington Autism Center for 6- to 12-month-old siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder and comprehensive follow-up evaluations at 12 and 24 months of age.
• Developmental screening for the older sibling with ASD.
• Completion of questionnaires and phone interviews for parents.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Who may participate in this study? What are the criteria?

Families with

• a child who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder AND
• a younger sibling six months or younger.

What does participation in the study mean?

• Cognitive, social, and develop,ental assessments at the UW Autism Center for 6-month-old siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder and comprehensive follow-up evaluations at 12 months and 24 months of age.
• Developmental screening for the older sibling.
• Completion of questionnaires and phone interviews for parents.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Seattle Children's Hospital.

What is the time commitment for participation in the study?

You will be asked to complete several questionnaires, respond to a number of questions over the phone and participate in assessment visits at the UW Autism Center when your infant is six, 12, and 24 months old. At each time point, the questionnaires will take approximately two hours, each phone call lasts approximately two hours, and we will ask that you schedule two 90-minute visits to the UW Autism Center. You will also be asked to bring your child to Seattle Children’s Hospital for an MRI scan at each age point (6, 12, and 24 months). Each completed MRI scanning session takes approximately one hour.

What will my family get out of the study?

• All families will receive developmental evaluations of their infant at 6, 12, and 24 months along with a detailed clinical report.
• All families will receive advice regarding appropriate intervention services.
• Information regarding your children’s developmental profile can be used in educational planning.
• Advice and referral information regarding your child’s development and behavior.
• Compensation for parking and a $75 check at each age point (6, 12, and 24 months).

What are the risks of participating in this study, and what safeguards are in place to minimize any risks?

This study is approved by a human subjects committee at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and all efforts are made to minimize any potential risks. Psychological and behavioral testing of your child may reveal difficulties with language, mental processing or socialization, as well as a diagnosis of an ASD at 24 months of age, which will be reported to you with appropriate follow-up recommendations. Similarly, although no clinically significant brain structural findings are expected, all MRIs will be evaluated by a board-certified pediatric neuroradiologist, and you will be informed of any clinically significant findings with appropriate follow-up recommendations.

Who are the investigators involved in this project?

Annette Estes, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator and Director of Network Behavioral Assessment
Shanna Alvarez, MS, CCS-SLP, Graduate Research Assistant
Phillip Cali, BA, Graduate Research Assistant
Jess Greenson, PhD
Erin Olson, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Amanda Rosenburg, Research Study Coordinator
Tanya St. John, PhD, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow

Whom should I contact to get involved?

This is a network project involving researchers at six other academic institutions throughout North America. Additional IBIS information is available at www.ibis-network.org.

To learn more about any of our studies, please contact our resource coordinator at 1.877.408.UWAC (8922) or email: uwautism@uw.edu.

University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital
Infant Brain Imaging Study
Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195
1.800.994.9701

*Please remember we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of email.

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