Project Description:
Need: Developmental-behavioral pediatricians (DBPs) assess and manage many of the most common chronic health conditions affecting children. Multisite research on Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) is needed to improve access to care, quality of care, and health outcomes for children and youth with these conditions.
Goals/Objectives
Goal 1: Maintain and further develop the infrastructure for a DBP research network. Obj 1: Maintain a national network of collaborating sites and a Network Coordinating Center; Obj 2: Update the DBPNet research agenda; Obj 3: Collaborate with Autism CARES programs.
Goal 2: Develop & implement at least 3 multisite research studies. Obj 1: Complete ongoing study of family navigation to improve access to ASD services; Obj 2: Develop & implement a study of effective/efficient ASD evaluations; Obj 3: Develop & submit grants related to topics such as shared decision making, outcome measures, interventions, and/or data from electronic health records.
Goal 3: Provide training and mentoring to junior or new investigators. Obj 1: Provide innovative mentorship, research, and/or manuscript writing experiences for at least 12 junior/new investigators; Obj 2: Provide at least 3 research trainings at national meetings; Obj 3: Develop at least 2 digital or on-line research trainings.
Goal 4: Disseminate DBPNet research findings. Obj 1: Produce at least 2 peer-reviewed publications per multi-site study; Obj 2: Provide at least 3 research presentations at national meetings per year; Obj 3: Produce summaries of research for family members and policy makers that are disseminated through the DBPNet website and sent to appropriate policy makers.
Features: DBPNet conducts clinical and translational research designed to improve access to care, quality or care, and health outcomes for children and youth with ASD/DD at 14 leading DBP research, training, and clinical programs. Research results are disseminated to professionals in the field of MCH, families and policy makers. We collaborate with the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) and other Autism CARES grantees to provide research training and mentoring to new and junior investigators.
Coordination: Representatives of both Autism Intervention Research Networks (AIR-P & AIR-B) and parents of children with ASD or related disabilities serve as advisors to Network Committees. The Network sites include 8 Autism CARES funded DBP leadership training programs and 8 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities programs.
Products: Products developed by DBPNet include peer reviewed scientific publications, scientific presentations at national meetings, research trainings, lay research summaries, and we participate in the development of practice guidelines.
Benefits: The principal benefit is the generation of new knowledge and the cardinal measures of success are the number of presentations at national scientific meetings and the number of publications in peer reviewed journals.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Specific Groups
