Federal Project Grant Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded $625,859 to the University of California, Los Angeles on January 27, 2026, under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program. This project grant supports research aimed at developing and validating objective, quantitative measures of infant motor function using wearable sensor technology and advanced computational techniques to serve as predictive biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research initiative will enroll 120 infants at increased likelihood for ASD—defined as having an older sibling with ASD—and assess motor development at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. The study leverages preliminary findings indicating that lower sensor-based quantitative measures of movement symmetry and variability are specifically associated with later ASD outcomes.

This project directly addresses a critical gap in early ASD detection by moving beyond traditional standardized assessments that focus on milestone-attainment ratings and lack ASD-specificity. The research will generate objective, reliable, and scalable motor metrics capable of advancing earlier detection and intervention to improve long-term outcomes for individuals with ASD. The project period extends through December 31, 2030, enabling comprehensive longitudinal data collection and validation across the first year of life in this high-risk infant population.