About UWAC Research

The UWAC research program, supported by funding from private foundations and the National Institutes of Health, collaborates with families and individuals to conduct research with infants, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children, adolescents, and adults with autism. Located on the University of Washington’s Seattle campus, the center is recognized as an Autism Center of Excellence by the National Institutes of Health. The UW Autism Center research program is engaged in several national and international collaborations, as well as independent projects, researching autism.

Current Projects

Now Recruiting! The Infant Brain Imaging Study – Early Prediction is enrolling infants ages 0-6 months who have an older sibling with or without autism. The study uses brain imaging to help detect infants who are likely to go on to develop autism. Infants complete developmental testing and MRI scans at 6, 12, and 24 months. This study builds on the findings of the previous IBIS study. To learn more, please contact our research coordinator at (206) 685-8404 or ibisstudy@uw.edu or see the press release here.

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Now Recruiting! The Infant Down Syndrome Study is enrolling infants ages 0-12 months with Down Syndrome and infants 0-6 months without Down Syndrome. The goal of this study is to characterize early intellectual, communication, and behavioral development and, for the first time, brain development in young children with Down Syndrome from 6 months of age through 24 months. This study mirrors and expands on the IBIS study and will use the knowledge gained from infants with a family history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to further our understanding of Down Syndrome. To learn more, please contact our research coordinator at (206) 685-8404 or ibisstudy@uw.edu.

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Now Re-Contacting! The IBIS Sleep Study studies sleep patterns in previous IBIS participants as they reach 24 months of age or school age (7-12 years). The Sleep Study involves home-based assessments of sleep and sleep habits. The association of sleep habits with behavioral and developmental characteristics and brain development will allow researchers to more fully understand sleep and development. This study is currently recruiting families who have previously participated in IBIS. To learn more, please contact our research coordinator at (206) 616-8839 or ibisstudy@uw.edu.

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Now Re-Contacting! The IBIS – School Age and Adolescent Study follows the original group of children who participated in the Infant Brain Imaging Study as they reach school age (7-12 years) and adolescence (13-16 years). The follow-up involves comprehensive assessments of behavioral, cognitive and psychiatric outcomes, as well as brain development through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This will allow, for the first time, researchers to look at developmental trajectories from infancy to adolescence in order to more fully understand brain-behavior relationships in children who do (and do not) have siblings with autism. This study is currently recruiting families who have previously participated in IBIS. To learn more, please contact our research coordinator at (206) 616-8839 or ibisstudy@uw.edu.

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Researchers at the University of Washington are developing a phone app in Spanish to support parents caring for children with autism (COCO). The study is for anyone who self-identifies as a parent/family caregiver caring for a child with autism. It takes a couple of minutes every day at their convenience to respond through text message or WhatsApp, and parents who complete the study will receive a $25 e-gift card.  Click here for Spanish flyer.  Click here for English flyer.

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The On-Time Autism Intervention (OTAI) Project is a research-community partnership focused on engaging community partners, supporting community providers through collaboration and training, and is currently conducting pilot work in the community. Click here for more information.