Share

Genetics of Autism in Latinx Ancestries

September 2, 2021 - September 2, 2025

While there have been large-scale genetic analyses of autism spectrum disorder, there have been little efforts to investigate this in Hispanics and Latina/Latino populations (henceforth Latinx), the largest minority population in the United States. Inclusion of under-represented populations in genetic studies is important both for scientific reasons and for equity. The genetic architecture of ASD is complex and ongoing efforts to decipher it have focused on both common and rare genetic variants and investigating whether the genetic architecture differs across ancestral populations is important in order to have informed care and risk factors for underrepresented groups.

What are the goals of the study?

The central purpose of this project is to collect genetic and phenotypic information about childhood psychiatric conditions, with the aim of finding links between core symptoms, cognitive ability, and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. To better understand and investigate the genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in people through observation of its genetic architecture across ancestral populations. Specifically, we aim to further our understanding of ASD in Hispanic/Latinx populations, the largest minority population in the U.S. and an admixed population.

What will happen during the visit or online?

Participating in the study typically requires two in-person visits, one for an autism evaluation and one for IQ testing and DNA Collection. The DNA Collection can either be a blood draw or saliva collection; we collect DNA from the person affected with ASD and two biological family members. Furthermore, there is a zoom interview between a clinician and parent for our children participants and online forms that must be filled out. Families will be compensated $100 and will receive a report of the assessments completed.

How will this help families?

Families will be able to receive a report of all assessments done and receive compensation. Receiving an appointment for an autism evaluation and updated reports can often take several months to years, while here it takes a couple of weeks. Our reports can be often used for school or to apply to additional services. Adding on, our coordinator speaks Spanish which can often aid families that don’t speak English and helps remove that barrier to care. Furthermore, this will help families in the future by investigating risk factors in the development of ASD which can help inform clinical care for diverse populations.

Eligibility Criteria

2-50 years old.
A person with suspected/ confirmed ASD and 1-2 family members (preferably parents/full siblings)

View the study flyer here.

Contact Information

Thariana Pichardo – thariana.pichardo@mssm.edu, 212-241-3692

Research Study Website
Seaver Autism Center

More Research studies from this topic: Biological Mechanisms

Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
In-person participation required
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
In-person participation required
Generating Effectiveness Mechanisms in RUBI (GEMs in RUBI)
In-person participation required
Autism-relevant profiles in neurogenetic syndromes
Online web-based study
Multi-Site Validation Study of Eye Tracking-Based Measure of Autism Symptom Severity
In-person participation required
Intranasal Vasopressin Treatment in Children with Autism
In-person participation required
A treatment for SETD5 subtype of autism
Online web-based study
Center for Brain Disease Diagnosis at the NRI
Online web-based study In-person participation required
Neural basis of social cognition in youth with ASD and psychosis
In-person participation required
Neurodevelopmental Sleep Study
In-person participation required
San Diego State University Toddler MRI Project
In-person participation required
Autism Home Videos for Children
Online web-based study
Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health
Online web-based study
Simons Searchlight
Online web-based study
The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials: Confirmation Study
In-person participation required
Predicting and Optimizing Language Outcomes in Minimally Verbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (POLO)
In-person participation required
Adolescent Communication of Emotion Study
In-person participation required
Social Motivation
In-person participation required
Pivotal Response Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
In-person participation required
Exploring Positive and Negative Dimensions in Autism Spectrum Disorders (EXPAND)
In-person participation required
CHARGE
In-person participation required
Imaging Cognition and Neurodevelopment (ICAN)
In-person participation required
Infant-Caregiver Synchrony in Autism
In-person participation required
MRI Study for Prediction of ASD
In-person participation required
Walking and Talking in Autism
In-person participation required
SPARK: Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge
Online web-based study In-person participation required
RARE-X Data Collection Program
Online web-based study
BRIDGE Study (Brain Indicators of Developmental Growth)
In-person participation required
Cognitive Functioning in Children
Online web-based study
The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials: Confirmation Study
In-person participation required
Pubertal, Psychosocial and Physiological Development in Females with Autism
In-person participation required
Social Dynamics and Early Visual Experiences
In-person participation required
Characterizing Electroencephalogram (EEG) Index of Plasticity of the Social Brain in Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Social Cognition in Brain and Behavior
Online web-based study In-person participation required
Sensory Reactivity and Regulation Development
In-person participation required
Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Inflexibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
The neuroanatomical basis for face processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder
In-person participation required
WATCH Motor Development Study: Advancing Screening Tools for ASD
In-person participation required
The Investigation of Genetics Exome Research (TIGER-3)
In-person participation required Online web-based study
A Pilot Study of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
In-person participation required
Research Studying Pimavanserin in Irritability Associated with Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Mapping brain function in children with autism spectrum disorder with diffuse optical tomography
In-person participation required
Eye-tracking In-person Research
In-person participation required
Sleep in Children with Autism
In-person participation required
Aging in Autism
In-person participation required
Camouflaging/masking among females on the autism spectrum
Online web-based study
Test Elevation
Online web-based study
Perceptions of Autism in a Digital Age
Online web-based study
The neural basis of third party social interaction perception in autism
In-person participation required
A pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for autonomic dysregulation in individuals with the developmental disabilities
In-person participation required
 Satisfaction with Social Support and Future Anxiety Among Hispanic Guardians of Children with Autism/Satisfacción con el Apoyo Social y Ansiedad Futura entre Tutores Hispanos de Niños con Trastorno de Espectro Autista
Online web-based study
Development of the M-CHAT-S, a school-age extension of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
Online web-based study
Identification of Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using Protein and Metabolite Profiling
In-person participation required
TARGETING THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF RESTRICTED AND REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM USING N-ACETYLCYSTEINE: RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
In-person participation required
GEMMA (Genome, Environment, Microbiome, and Metabolome in Autism)
Online web-based study
Characterizing sleep physiology in ASD: a home-based study
Online web-based study
Adult Autism Sensory Research – The Vanderbilt Sound Sensitivity Study
In-person participation required
The Impact of Hobbies on the Well-being of Autism in Adults
Online web-based study
Testing the Bottom-Up vs Top-Down Imbalance Hypothesis of ASD
In-person participation required
Generating Effectiveness Mechanisms in RUBI (GEMs in RUBI)
In-person participation required