Award
NIH Reporter #4RF1MH138028-02
Neonatal autonomic nervous system dysfunction as a predictor of autism spectrum disorder in preterm infants
Recipient
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Award Amount
$2,651,315.00
Ceiling
$2,651,315.00
Awarded
May 01, 2026
Identifier
4RF1MH138028-02
This award funds a study to investigate autonomic nervous system dysfunction in very preterm infants as a predictor for autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental impairment, with longitudinal follow-up over three years.
Description
The study aims to evaluate autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction during NICU hospitalization of very preterm infants as a potential etiological mechanism for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). It will measure heart rate and thermal gradients, examine the moderating effects of neonatal morbidities, and document ASD and NDI features over the first three years of life.