Planning the Utah Center of Excellence for Autism

描述(由申请人提供)：自闭症可以被认为是 神经精神发育障碍。自闭症的诊断已经有所改善 过去50年，但仍然是基于发展历史和行为 评估，而不是对潜在的大脑异常。最好的电流 自闭症儿童的治疗针对的是改善语言， 适应和社交技能，但不涉及这一点的生物学基础 无序。发育神经生物学和神经生物学研究的主要进展 自闭症的遗传学可能允许有效的精神药理学和其他生物学 治疗。未来对遗传和环境因素的认识 导致自闭症的原因将使预防自闭症的计划得以实施 以及相关的发育障碍。同时，计划增加和 改进培训，改进病例识别和社区意识，必须 实施以满足即时且不断增长的诊断和 治疗。这种进展将需要BASIC和BASIC 以及卓越中心的临床科学家。犹他大学 提议在明年发展这样一个中心。此应用程序构建 关于犹他州在自闭症方面杰出研究的历史。独特的资源 包括系谱数据库、头围和结构神经成像 自闭症的发现和成功的人类基因发现和记录 基因组学。该中心的发展规划包括三个具体目标。 首先，我们将发展工作关系、程序和项目，以 整合犹他大学和杨百翰大学的研究人员 与自闭症研究相关的基础和临床学科。第二，我们将 将大学和卫生与心理健康系的资源组织成 自闭症研究、诊断、转诊和培训英才中心。 最后，我们将开展试验性研究，发展有前途的研究。 遗传学的组成部分，结构神经成像。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by applicant): Autism can be considered a prototype for neuropsychiatric developmental disorders. Diagnosis of autism has improved over the past 5 decades but still is based on developmental history and behavioral assessment, not on the underlying brain abnormality. The best current treatments for children with autism are directed at improving language, adaptive and social skills but do not address the biological basis of this disorder. Major advances in understanding the developmental neurobiology and genetics of autism may allow effective psychopharmacology and other biological treatments. Future recognition of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to the causation will allow for programs of prevention of autism and related developmental disorders. In parallel, programs to increase and improve training and to refine case identification and community awareness must be implemented to satisfy an immediate and growing need for diagnosis and treatment. Such progress will require a focused and synergistic effort by basic and clinical scientists in Centers of Excellence. The University of Utah proposes to develop such a Center over the next year. This application builds on a history of outstanding research in autism in Utah. Unique resources include a genealogical database, head circumference and structural neuroimaging findings for autism and a record of successful human gene discovery and genomics. The developmental plan for this Center includes three specific aims. First, we will develop working relationships, procedures and projects that integrate investigators at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University in basic and clinical disciplines relevant to autism research. Second, we will organize University and Department of Health and Mental Health resources into a Center of Excellence for autism research, diagnosis, referral and training. Finally, we will carry out pilot studies that develop promising research components in genetics, structural neuroimaging.