Nurture Study
What's the study about?
Marcus Autism Center is studying newborns to learn more about how babies learn and grow.
Overall, this research study aims to learn how babies develop and how babies with a family history of autism may be developing differently compared to babies without a family history of autism. We hope to learn how to identify autism earlier and find better ways to support children and families with autism.
Who can participate?
Child under 4 months old can participate in Nurture if they have a sibling, parent or aunt/uncle with a confirmed diagnosis of autism
What will participants be doing?
As part of the study, your baby may participate in:
Clinical assessments to evaluate their social, cognitive, and motor skill development through engaging in play-based activities.
Eye-tracking visits to examine how your baby responds to various stimuli in their environment.
Noninvasive MRI to measure brain growth
Noninvasive EEG to measure brain activity while interacting with caregivers
Recordings made in your home to explore language development.
Clinical assessment, eye tracking and EEG study visits will take place at the Marcus Autism Center and MRI visits take place at our imaging center at Emory University. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule for all visits and free childcare for siblings is available.
Why is this important?
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism occurs in about 1 in 31 (3.2%) children. Research also shows that about 1 in 5 infants who have a sibling with an autism diagnosis will also receive an autism diagnosis.
By monitoring development during the first three years of life, researchers can compare how babies with a family history of autism grow and learn alongside those without such a history. This helps us better understand the many different ways early development can unfold.
Families who take part in sibling (or other family member) autism research receive enhanced developmental monitoring of their child, while also contributing valuable knowledge about early development and the factors—like genetics and environment—that may shape it.
The NURTURE Study was created by a team of researchers, clinicians, and families who share a common goal: to better understand how babies grow, learn, and connect with the world around them—especially during the very first years of life.
This study builds on years of research showing that development can look different for each baby, especially those who have an older sibling with autism. We know that all babies grow in their own unique ways, and we believe those differences are important to understand, support, and celebrate.
With the help of families like yours, we’re learning more about early development—things like communication, play, movement, and attention—so we can better recognize and support the many paths children take as they grow.
NURTURE isn’t just about gathering information. It’s about partnering with families, learning from babies, and helping shape a future where all children are supported in ways that fit who they are.