Closing gaps: Autism's health disparities

September 9, 2020

The MN UCEDD has joined a national research network that aims to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adults with autism. Led by UCLA and some of America's best autism researchers, the multidisciplinary team will study autism as it relates to overall healthcare access and quality, primary care utilization, physical activity, stress, sleep, substance abuse, sexual health, neurological issues, and genetics, among others. The project will also explore healthcare disparities among women and people from underserved or vulnerable populations.

Jennifer Hall-Lande (pictured) is MN UCEDD's principal investigator on the project, and for years she has worked with these populations in Minnesota. ICI is among 15 collaborating organizations and seven research nodes participating in the network. AUCD is the data repository and will help manage the network. AUCD's broad membership network will also serve as collaborators, and UCLA's Alice Kuo, a professor of internal medicine and pediatrics, is the project director.