Development of the Florida Autism Center of Excellence

描述(申请人提供)：我们正处于早期开发阶段 建立一支跨学科的调查团队，专注于基础和 与自闭症相关的临床问题。我们的目标是建立一个 在自闭症研究中的卓越表现由一套高度互动的 在发育障碍方面有良好研究记录的研究人员 以及对自闭症的日益关注和承诺。因此，与NIH一致 为了实现这一目标，这项发展助学金将有助于吸引年轻人和有经验的人 自闭症领域的研究人员。我们有大量的资源需要 已开发，包括随时可以接触到临床人群进行研究和 良好的研究环境，可用于规划和发展研究中心。 我们的多学科研究团队有着合作努力的历史。 这一群体中有反常重复行为领域的领导者， 行为分析/功能分析，临床和基础 精神药理学。我们的重点将放在一个核心和定义上，但没有得到充分的研究 自闭症的特征：受限和重复的行为。我们将聘用 我们有相当多经验的方法，包括行为 分析、精神药理学、运动分析和动物模型。这段时期 发展赠款的支持将允许完成几个关键的 发展性活动。第一，该委员会的组织架构 自闭症研究项目的成功开发将被设计并 实施。第二项活动将是吸引优秀的调查人员 到田里去。第三项活动将是制定试点项目。 这将包括开发和审查用于评估的临床方案 以及重复行为障碍的治疗以及研究方案 用于基础动物研究。第四，核心服务将具有成本效益和 支持最大数量的拟议或计划项目将被设计和 实施。第五，培训活动的规划和发展将 也是一项重大的事业。我们将确定当前资源(相关 课程作业、大型巡回赛、杂志俱乐部等)并补充以下内容 这是必要的。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by applicant): We are in the early development stage of building an interdisciplinary team of investigators focused on both basic and clinical issues related to autism. Our goal is to establish a Center for Excellence in Autism Research made up of a highly interactive set of investigators who have a strong record of research in developmental disorders and an increasing focus on and commitment to autism. Thus, consistent with NIH goal, this developmental grant will serve to attract both young and experienced investigators to the field of autism. We have significant resources to be developed including ready access to clinical populations for study and an excellent research environment in which to plan and develop a research Center. Our multidisciplinary research team has a history of collaborative efforts. Among this group are leaders in the field of abnormal repetitive behaviors, behavior analysis/functional analysis, and clinical and basic psychopharmacology. Our focus will be on a core and defining but understudied feature of autism: restricted and repetitive behaviors. We will employ approaches with which we have considerable experience including behavior analysis, psychopharmacology, movement analysis, and animal models. The period of support of the developmental grant will allow completion of several key developmental activities. First, the organizational structure for the successful development of an autism research program will be designed and implemented. A second activity will be to attract outstanding investigators into the field. A third activity will be the development of pilot projects. This will involve development and review of clinical protocols for assessment and treatment of repetitive behaviors disorders as well as research protocols for basic animal studies. Fourth, core services that will be cost effective and support the largest number of proposed or planned projects will be designed and implemented. Fifth, the planning and development of training activities will also be a major undertaking. We will identify current resources (relevant coursework, grand rounds, journal clubs, etc.) and supplement those where necessary.