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New study shows fetal head size could link to autismResearch has found a link between children with larger head measurements in-utero and a subsequent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as toddlers.
Research
The broader language phenotype of Autism: A comparison with Specific Language ImpairmentSome individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience linguistic difficulties similar to those found in individuals with specific language...

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Dr Kandice VarcinDr Kandice Varcin is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Autism Research Team at The Kids Research Institute Australia.

News & Events
The Kids Research Institute Australia’s CliniKids wins national disability awardCliniKids has won the Excellence in Allied Health category at the inaugural National Disability Awards, announced in Melbourne tonight.

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The Kids researchers named as finalists in 2023 Premier’s Science AwardsFive The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers working across diverse and highly impactful areas of child health research have been named as finalists for the 2023 Premier’s Science Awards.

News & Events
Autism Researcher a Finalist for Western Australian of the YearProfessor Andrew Whitehouse has been named a finalist in the 2023 Western Australian of the Year Awards for his work in transforming clinical support for autistic children in Australia.
Research
CRISPR-Cas9-generated PTCHD1 2489T>G stem cells recapitulate patient phenotype when undergoing neural inductionAn estimated 3.5%-5.9% of the global population live with rare diseases, and approximately 80% of these diseases have a genetic cause. Rare genetic diseases are difficult to diagnose, with some affected individuals experiencing diagnostic delays of 5-30 years. Next-generation sequencing has improved clinical diagnostic rates to 33%-48%. In a majority of cases, novel variants potentially causing the disease are discovered.
Research
The first six months of life: A systematic review of early markers associated with later autismThere is now good evidence that behavioural signs of autism spectrum conditions (autism) emerge over the first two years of life. Identifying clear developmental differences early in life may facilitate earlier identification and intervention that can promote longer-term quality of life. Here we present a systematic review of studies investigating behavioural markers of later autism diagnosis or symptomology taken at 0-6 months.
Research
Potential role for immune-related genes in autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from genome-wide association meta-analysis of autistic traitsAutism spectrum disorders are complex, with a strong genetic basis. Genetic research in autism spectrum disorders is limited by the fact that these disorders are largely heterogeneous so that patients are variable in their clinical presentations. To address this limitation, we investigated the genetics of individual dimensions of the autism spectrum disorder phenotypes, or autistic-like traits. These autistic-like traits are continuous variations in autistic behaviours that occur in the general population.
Research
Caregiver Psychological Distress Predicts Temperament and Social-Emotional Outcomes in Infants with Autism TraitsChild temperament and caregiver psychological distress have been independently associated with social-emotional difficulties among individuals with autism. However, the interrelationship among these risk factors has rarely been investigated.