AIR-P Network Activities

December 15, 2015

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with a particular emphasis on addressing disparities experienced by underserved minority and rural communities. Two key goals of the AIR-P network are to provide opportunities to develop collaborations and partnerships with clinicians and researchers and to support junior investigators in developing their research efforts to improve medical care of children with autism.

The AIR-P provides opportunities for researchers from across the network to collaborate with each other as well as other CAAI sponsored programs such as LEND and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Programs. The network provides ongoing opportunities to support investigators through a Request for Applications (RFA) mechanism, which has supported more than 25 research projects at more than $10M throughout the past 7 years. Successful partnerships with these programs have increased AIR-P presence at various scientific meetings, including abstracts at IMFAR and PAS, and papers submitted for publication. For 2016, AIR-P network members submitted 15 abstracts and 1 panel presentation for consideration at IMFAR and 6 abstracts for consideration at PAS. Topics of presentations include behavioral subtypes, racial and ethnic disparities, gastrointestinal symptoms and stress response, omega 3 fatty acids, sleep and behavior, gender differences and medical co-morbidities, and bone accrual rates in boys with ASD.

The AIR-P holds a monthly webinar series titled, "Advances in Autism Research & Care (AARC)," which alternates autism research and care themes, and is available to all network members, CAAI-sponsored programs, the LEND and DBP Fellowship networks, various other autism and pediatric organizations, collaborators, primary care providers, and autism advocates. Research webinars feature AIR-P investigators, often junior investigators, presenting their work in various stages of development while care focused themes cover hot topics in the field of autism and promote idea generation for future research. Through the past year, we've observed attendance ranging from 35-200 people for topics including monitoring antipsychotic medications in children with ASD, sleep problems, GI/stress, family engagement, transition, and network Registry data. Future topics will include gender differences in ASD, developmental trajectories, co-morbidities, and treatment choices.

For more information on the AIR-P, please visit our public website: www.airpnetwork.org and www.asatn.org.