Search
Research
Analysis of common genetic variation and rare CNVs in the Australian Autism BiobankAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition whose biological basis is yet to be elucidated. The Australian Autism Biobank (AAB) is an initiative of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) to establish an Australian resource of biospecimens, phenotypes and genomic data for research on autism.
Research
Validation of a novel theory of mind measurement tool: The social robot video taskSocial communication difficulties in autism spectrum disorder have been associated with poor Theory of Mind (ToM), an ability to attribute mental states to others. Interventions using humanoid robots could improve ToM that may generalize to human-human interactions. Traditionally, ToM has been measured using the Firth-Happe Animations (FHA) task which depicts interactions between two animated triangles.
Research
The associations between autistic and communication traits in parents and developmental outcomes in children at familial risk of autism at 6 and 24 months of ageSeveral studies have explored relationships between parent broader autism phenotype and offspring communication, and have reported that autistic-like traits in parents are related to offspring communication difficulties and autism severity. However, past research has focused on studying such associations in childhood and we know very little about them in infancy. With accumulating evidence that interventions administered during infancy may be most effective in reducing ASD symptoms, it is imperative to examine whether relationships between parent autistic-like traits and child communication appear even earlier during this critical period of life.
Research
An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New ZealandMany clinicians in New Zealand do not follow guidelines for best practice in autism diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the processes that health professionals in New Zealand follow when diagnosing autistic children and adults. We asked 117 health professionals from a range of services and regions in New Zealand, how they identify and diagnose autism.
Research
Risk and protective factors for the health of primary care-givers of children with autism spectrum disorders or ID: a narrative reviewWe aimed to review original research which described factors impacting the health of primary care-givers of children with Autism or Intellectual Disability
Research
Investigating facial phenotype in autism spectrum conditions: The importance of a hypothesis driven approachThe identification of differences in the facial phenotype of individuals with ASC may contribute to efforts to promote early identification of the condition and help elucidate etiological pathways.
Research
Commentary: Are we expecting too much from the extreme male brain theory of autism? A reflection on Kung et al. (2016)This commentary highlights inconsistent findings that undermine the extreme male brain theory autism but data may not present an adequate test of the hypothesis
Research
Reduced goal-directed action control in autism spectrum disorderInvestigate whether impairments in the ability to execute flexible goal-directed actions may be an underlying feature in ASD contributing to these symptoms
Research
Acoustic Properties of Cries in 12-Month Old Infants at High-Risk of Autism Spectrum DisorderThere is preliminary evidence that infant siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have an atypical pattern of crying
People
Dr Kandice VarcinDr Kandice Varcin is an ​Honorary Research Fellow in the Autism Research Team at The Kids Research Institute Australia.