University of Iowa Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC)

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PROJECT SUMMARY: OVERALL This is a revised application to establish the University of Iowa “Hawkeye” Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC), Our mission is to provide an organizational structure that fully integrates basic and clinical research across the lifespan—from conception to adulthood—that is focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and amelioration of intellectual developmental disabilities (IDDs), tailored to an underserved rural population. The Hawk-IDDRC includes four components: 1) the Hawk-IDDRC Research Project will examine the interaction of genetic and epigenetic/environmental risks in young children with developmental disabilities, including autism, and integrate services from all four research Cores; 2) Four Research Cores will facilitate interdisciplinary and translational research, including: an Administrative Core (AC) that provides leadership to ensure cost-effective and rigorous IDD research, while inspiring interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation; a Clinical Translational Core (CTC), which will apply basic science discoveries into clinical settings by streamlining patient recruitment and phenotyping, biobanking, and implementing clinical trials for the development of novel treatments that can be employed across the lifespan; a Developmental Genomic/Epigenetics Core (DGC), which will use RNA/exome/whole genome sequencing to uncover intrinsic genetic variation and the contributions of extrinsic (environmental and experiential) factors on epigenetic regulation, and the association of these with IDD; and a Neurocircuitry and Behavior Core (NBC), which will assess both animal and human neural circuit development and function, electrophysiology, and behavior; a 3) a Dissemination and Communication Plan that ensures Hawk-IDDRC research is effectively communicated to the scientific community, educators, policy makers, government officials, and the public, in an engaging and timely manner; and 4) an Educational Program, involving basic and clinical scientists, trainees, the public, and IDD-affected families, and will feature monthly seminars, mentoring of young and talented investigators focused on IDD research, and an educational program aimed at the lay public and IDD community. The Hawk-IDDRC will integrate and capitalize upon strong existing resources in the Hawkeye State: 1) the nationally renowned Center for Disabilities and Development; 2) the Iowa Neuroscience Institute; 3) Iowa’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and 4) the Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. The Center will foster strong existing collaborations between basic and clinical scientists, as well as the IDD community and their families, and support 73 federally funded projects ($28 million per year). The stable, non-transitory rural population in Iowa and an interconnected telehealth system uniquely position Hawk-IDDRC investigators to conduct longitudinal, multi-generational research, for which the University of Iowa is renowned. By providing the infrastructure to direct these outstanding resources, the Hawk-IDDRC will become a leading force in the study of IDD.