Autism longitudinal data project - this proposal responds to hrsa-22-086: "autism longitudinal data project". Our overarching goals are to address major knowledge gaps in the understanding of autism…

Autism longitudinal data project - this proposal responds to hrsa-22-086: "autism longitudinal data project". Our overarching goals are to address major knowledge gaps in the understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD)/associated developmental disabilities (DD) and CO-occurring medical conditions using a life course framework. Specifically, this project will leverage the well-established boston birth cohort and multi-level, multi-dimensional longitudinal databases to (1) characterize ASD/DD heterogeneous manifestations and developmental trajectories across the life stages; (2) identify upstream risk and protective factors of ASD/DD; conduct comparative risk assessment to important and modifiable risks and evaluate various intervention strategies via computer simulations that are safe and time and cost efficient; and (3) integrate maternal and child multi-omics data (genome, epigenome, metabolome) to gain a deep understanding of molecular pathways by which early life factors drive or shape the developmental trajectories of ASD/DD. Finally, we will harness the big data and machine learning to improve early risk prediction of ASD/DD. The new knowledge gained will provide critically needed evidence to inform clinical and public health practice and policies. For example, IT will help advance early risk assessment, prediction, and primary prevention of ASD/DD, when interventions may have the greatest life-long benefits. IT may transform how maternal and child health care and educational services are organized and delivered, to better meet the needs of individuals with ASD/DD and improve their wellbeing across the lifespan.