Funded Programs

Genetic Epidemiology of Autism in China: Phase I

The Emory School of Medicine is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Peking University Health Sciences Center to develop methods to assess the prevalence of autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) in China. ASD is typified by impairments in social reciprocity, language and communication, and unusual or idiosyncratic interests and repetitive behaviors. Researchers in this global health partnership will examine data from the China-US Collaborative Population-based Surveillance and Research Program for Maternal-Child and Family Health cohort, which has already provided valuable information on the prevalence of birth defects in China. This project is innovative because very few data are available regarding the prevalence of ASD in developing countries, including China, where rapid economic growth and an ongoing one-child-per- family policy have made ASD a high-priority public health concern. The project will provide the foundation for studies of genetic and environmental factors associated with ASD in the study cohort. The first stage will use a high-sensitivity screening test administered by field staff without extensive training in ASD daignosis. The second stage will be a high-specificity expert assessment of screen-positive cases to confirm true positive cases. The parternships's work will serve as the foundation for future studies of genetic, environmental, and gene-environmental interactive factors associated with ASD in China.

For more information, contact:
Joseph G. Cubells, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Emory University School of Medicine
jcubells@genetics.emory.edu