Pregnancy stress, early experiences and genetic changes in child development and autism
Follows pregnant women and their babies to study stress, early experiences and autism.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Perinatal Autism Genetics and Epigenetics Study
Key facts
- Where
- Iowa City, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 0 and 50 years old?
Source: NCT07738003, who can take part
Where in United States
- Center fro Disabilities and DevelopmentIowa City, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Iowa
- Trial code
- NCT07738003
- Record updated
- 3 August 2026
- Original description
The University of Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development is researching how pregnancy, early childhood experiences, and genetic factors influence child development, with a focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Pregnant women are invited to participate in a study that tracks their pregnancy and child's early development, through simple, at-home activities using a cell phone. Participants complete short questionnaires, join an online interview, and videotape their baby's play after birth. They are also sent a kit to swab their baby's mouth to collect cheek cells for genetic testing. The study will explore whether stress and early social experience lead to genetic changes associated with autism or other developmental conditions.Read full original descriptionShow less
Perinatal Experience and Epigenetic Change in Autism: Discovering Modifiable Pathways for Intervention
The University of Iowa's Center for Disabilities and Development is researching how pregnancy, early childhood experiences, and genetic factors influence child development, with a focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Pregnant women are invited to participate in a study that tracks their pregnancy and child's early development, through simple, at-home activities using a cell phone. Participants complete short questionnaires, join an online interview, and videotape their baby's play after birth. They are also sent a kit to swab their baby's mouth to collect cheek cells for genetic testing. The study will explore whether stress and early social experience lead to genetic changes associated with autism or other developmental conditions.
Inclusion: Criteria for Pregnant Women:; Pregnant women in their 1st or 2nd trimester of a singleton pregnancy; Age 18 to 50 years; Currently use a smart phone; ASD Group at age 18 to 27 months; M-CHAT score >= 4 or POSI score >= 3; Child has subsequently clinically confirmed diagnosis of ASD, based on ADOS/TAP testing and/or other clinical evaluation; Developmental Delay (DD) Group at age 18 to 27-months; Developmental screening score on SWYC in the "at risk" range; Child has subsequently clinically confirmed developmental delay on clinical evaluation and/or self-report measure; Typically Developing (TD) Group at age 18 to 27 months - None.
Exclusion: History of severe mental illness in the past year, resulting in inpatient admission; History of serious neonatal complications requiring NICU admission for one week or more; Known genetic or syndromic condition (e.g. Down Syndrome, etc.) that impacts learning and brain development; Hearing impairment; <35 weeks gestational age at birth; ASD Group at age 18 to 27 months; Developmental Delay (DD) Group at age 18 to 27 months; Typically Developing (TD) Group at age 18 to 27 months; Criteria for Pregnant Women:; Non-English speaking mother; All children; None; Screen positive for ASD (M-CHAT >= 4 AND POSI >= 3); First-degree relative who has been diagnosed with ASD; Screen positive for ASD (M-CHAT >= 4 AND POSI >= 3); Developmental screening/assessment score in the "at risk" range; First-degree relative who has been diagnosed with ASD.