Ongoing Research
The SAGA Study
A five year NIH-funded longitudinal study examining differences in the development of children with and without a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder ages 4-8-years-old. The goal of the SAGA study is to understand the developmental trajectories of autistic females and how these differ from males, using a range of methods, including eye tracking, caregiver report and direct observations.
Connections+ Study
Connections+ is a remote study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health with the goal of understanding how community connections protect against suicidal thoughts and behaviors in older autistic and non-autistic adults (55+). Suicide is the leading cause of premature death in autism. Rates of suicide also increase with age, therefore our team is studying this interplay between autism and aging. Participants in this study will track their social interactions and community participation using daily diaries and GPS. They will also complete two video interviews. If you are interested in this study, please email connectionsplus@unc.edu.
AMP Study
The AMP Study (Autism, Mental Health, and Perimenopause) Study is a mixed methods study funded by the Organization for Autism Research with the goal of understanding autistic women’s experiences of perimenopause and their access to supports and services during this pivotal reproductive health transition. Participants in this study will complete surveys, interviews and daily diaries.