Research

Welcome to our series on research. We continue with information about the WONDER study.

Seattle Children’s researchers want to better understand social brain development in infants during the first three years of life. Drs. Fred Shic and Sara Jane Webb, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, are the coinvestigators of this study.

Who can join the study? Families with an infant under the age of 14 months with an older biological sibling (whole or half) with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and who use English as a primary language.

What will the study involve? Over the course of 3 years, there will be 4-5 in-person study visits at our West 8th research lab in Seattle. During the visits, researchers will record brain activity and eye movement while showing your child pictures and videos and engage your child in play-based activities to monitor their development. Feedback about your child’s performance on developmental assessments will be provided. One caregiver will be asked to complete questionnaires around the same time as the study visits, and 3-4 phone interviews over the course of the study.

How long will it take? Study visits will vary in length from 1- 2 ½ hours. Phone interviews and questionnaires will last approximately 1-2 hours. Appointments will be scheduled at a time that works well for your family.

What is the compensation? Families may receive up to $410-$425 by the end of the study for completing all the study activities. Children will receive a small toy at each visit. Parking validation is provided.

Interested of have questions? Contact the study team at wonder@seattlechildrens.org, (206) 884-WNDR or through the Wonder Contact form here.

Seattle Children’s Autism Center is partnered with the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) to create the nation’s largest online autism study. We want to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to help improve lives.

• Individuals with autism (including adults), biological parents and siblings are encouraged to participate.
  Registration is easy and can be done entirely online.
• Participants provide a saliva sample using a collection kit shipped to their home, complete surveys, and may be invited to participate in other studies that are relevant to them.
• Participants will receive a gift card code, valued at up to $50, once they’ve completed registration and returned samples.
• Thank you to Seattle Children’s Autism Center for your support of SPARK. 3738 patients at SCAC are participants in SPARK. 23 providers have helped refer participants to SPARK.

www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on school programming and academic planning this year. We have heard from many families that school is their #1 stressor right now, during what is an already overwhelming time for society. Read full post »

Seattle Children’s Autism Center is partnered with the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) to create the nation’s largest online autism study. We want to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to help improve lives. Read full post »

Seattle Children’s Autism Center invites you to join SPARK, a large autism research study!

Our goal
SPARK seeks to speed up research and improve our understanding of autism. This includes learning what causes autism and how best to treat it. Seattle Children’s and 32 of the nation’s leading medical schools and autism research centers are part of this effort.

What we do
SPARK researchers study genes and information collected from thousands of people with autism and, if possible, their parents. We hope you will join us!

If you’d like to learn more, please complete our virtual SPARK study interest card: SPARK Interest Survey

To join SPARK, please visit: www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW