Research
Current Projects
Brain Activity and Behavioral Indicators of Sensory Processing (BABeIS) ⟩
insp!re Lab
Infant participant wearing EEG cap in the insp!re lab BABeIS is an in-person study that aims to understand the brain-behavior connection in relation to sensory processing in infants 6-16 months. Participants will come to the Insp!re lab for a two hour visit. During the visit, infants will wear the EEG cap (see picture) while watching a silent movie and listening to a series of beeps. The EEG cap is completely safe for infants and will feel like wearing a swimming cap. The cap has soft sponges that will touch the infant’s head. Additionally, parents will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about their child’s behaviors. If you are interested in participating or hearing more, please contact the study team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (323) 442-2520.
Screening for Autism Risk in Preterm Infants (SARP) ⟩
insp!re Lab
Young participant in the insp!re lab SARP is a longitudinal study examining early signs of autism in preterm infants, 6 -18 months adjusted age. Families are recruited through the high-risk infant follow-up clinic at LA General Medical Center and are seen during their well-child check appointments. Participants will complete a 20-minute parent questionnaire (FYI) about how their child responds to people, objects, and events. Additionally, a 10-minute observational behavioral measure will be completed with the infant consisting of different play toys and how they respond. Data from electronic health records will also be used to correlate demographic and perinatal factors with the study outcomes.
Start: Jan 2019
Sensory and Social Development in Infants and Toddlers (SASI) ⟩
insp!re Lab
Young participant plays with a ball in the insp!re lab SASI is a longitudinal study which aims to understand individual differences in social and sensory development in typically developing and high-risk infants and toddlers. This study examines these domains through behavioral and physiological measures. We will be looking for families with an infant or toddler between the ages of 6 and 16 months to participate. We will be recruiting both a general community sample of infants as well as infants who have an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may be at higher familial risk. Study participation includes a brief survey and, depending on survey outcomes, 3 assessment time points over 3 months. Your family will be compensated for your time (up to $150), and parking is provided. If you are interested in participating or hearing more, please contact the study team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (323) 442-2520.
Southern California Child Development Survey (SoCal CDS) ⟩
insp!re Lab
SoCal CDS is a survey study examining children’s development from 6 to 16 months of age in domains such as social communication and sensory regulation. We are recruiting families from communities within the greater Los Angeles area to collect normative data on a diverse population. Participants will complete a 15-20 minute survey including the “First Years Inventory” (FYI), a questionnaire which asks parents about how their child responds to people, objects, and events. The survey also includes questions about developmental history and any potential concerns. Data obtained from birth records will also be used for analyses with survey outcomes to describe and correlate demographic and perinatal factors such as Apgar scores. If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact the project coordinator, Julia Lisle, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (323) 442-2520.
Completed Projects
Moving Beyond the Average: Building a Comprehensive Model of Classroom Quality that Incorporates Children’s Individual Experiences ⟩
insp!re Lab
The goal of this project is to explore how individual children's engagement varies within classrooms and the degree to which variation in child engagement is associated with children's outcomes. Specifically, the research team aims to (i) evaluate the degree to which the average engagement of…
Period: Sep 2020 – Jul 2022
Federal Funding $37,648
Early Behavioral Characteristics and Biobehavioral Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Novel Parent-Infant Interaction Paradigm ⟩
insp!re Lab
This pilot study will examine biobehavioral synchrony during mother-child interactions associated with infants’ at-risk status for later diagnosis of ASD. The findings will provide insights into the relationship between the patterns of the synchrony and early behavioral risk markers of ASD…
Period: Nov 2018 – Aug 2020
Intramural Funding $25,000
First Years Inventory (FYI) Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles ⟩
insp!re Lab
Young participant plays with blocks in the insp!re lab This study aims to add new data to our team’s ongoing research to identify early risk markers of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and develop better screening tools for infants in the general population. In our previous study in North Carolina,…
Period: Nov 2018 – Aug 2020
Private Funding $3,000
Parents and Infants Engaged (PIE) ⟩
insp!re Lab
The PIE study is a “proof of concept” evaluation of PIE, an intervention for infants at-risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. This study is a two-site collaboration at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University of Southern California (USC Chan Division). It examines…
Period: Aug 2017 – Jul 2020
Federal Funding $79,172
Evaluation of a Novel Intervention for Infants at Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders ⟩
insp!re Lab
This project aims to develop and test a parent coaching model for increasing awareness of sensory modulation and communication functions to increase social engagement for infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a community sample. Our current ability to detect infants at-risk for…
Period: Aug 2017 – Jul 2020
Federal Funding $79,172
Parent-Infant Engaged: Extension Pilot Study to Culturally Diverse Populations in Los Angeles ⟩
insp!re Lab
This study aims to develop more culturally sensitive early screening tool to identify early risk markers of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for ethnic minority infants in the general population. The First Years Inventory (FYI; Baranek et al., 2013) is a newly revised screener that has been normed…
Period: Nov 2018 – May 2020
Intramural Funding $3,000
Parent-Infant Physiology Study (PIPS) ⟩
insp!re Lab
insp!re team watch a young participant playing in the lab This pilot study examines the relationship between biobehavioral synchrony during mother-infant interactions and early developmental outcomes. The study aims to understand individual differences in behavioral and physiological patterns of…
Period: Nov 2018 – Mar 2020
Intramural Funding $25,000
Interdisciplinary Leadership in ASD: Optimizing Research-Practice Partnerships for Evidence-Based Outcomes ⟩
insp!re Lab
Period: Feb 2017 – Jul 2019
Federal Funding $29,875
Sensory Experiences Project (SEP) ⟩
insp!re Lab
Young participant plays with a toy puffer fish in the insp!re lab The SEP was a 10-year longitudinal study that has concluded enrollment and is in the data analysis phase. The purpose of this project was to explain the development, functional impact, and pathogenesis of unusual sensory experiences…
Period: Jul 2008 – Jun 2014
Federal Funding $2,516,180
