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Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database
Project Element Element Description

Project Title

Project Title

Developmental Synaptopaties Associated with TSC, PTEN and SHANK3 Mutations

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator

Sahin, Mustafa

Description

Description

Autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability (ASD/ID) are severe neurodevelopmental conditions withearly childhood onset. Advances in genetics have illustrated that ASD/ID represent a spectrum of raredisorders and that mutations in hundreds of genes may result in susceptibility to ASD/ID. This heterogeneityrepresents significant challenges but at the same time unique opportunities for research in the field ofASD/ID. Many of the genes implicated in ASD/ID appear to converge on a few common pathways,suggesting that there may be a common dysfunction at the cellular or systems level. Deeper understandingof the shared pathophysiology of these diseases may serve as gateways for understanding mechanisms ofother causes of ASD/ID and for shared treatment possibilities. Here we focus of three well-establishedgenetic syndromes that are associated with high penetrance for ASD/ID: TSC1/2, PTEN and SHANKSmutations. Specific aims for TSC are: 1) characterize the developmental phenotype of ASD and ID in a largecohort of pediatric patients with TSC; 2) identify biomarkers using advanced MR imaging; 3) establishinfrastructure for the collection and storage of human bio-specimens, including genetic material, from TSCpatients and their family members with ASD. Specific aims for PTEN are: 1) determine cross-sectional andlongitudinal medical, behavioral, and cognitive differences between PTEN ASD and other groups; 2) identifycognitive, neural systems, and molecular biomarkers specific to PTEN ASD; 3) create and maintain abiorepository and linked phenotypic database for PTEN ASD. Specific aims for SHANKS are: 1) characterizePMS using standardized medical, behavioral, and cognitive measures and to track the natural history of thesyndrome using repeated longitudinal assessments; 2) identify biomarkers using advanced MR imaging; S)identify genetic factors which contribute to diverse phenotypes in patients with PMS. As detailed in theResources sections, this Consortium involves experienced physician-researchers from premier academicinstitutions with strong institutional support, impressive mentors for training of future physician-researchers,and long-standing connections to patient advocacy organizations with extensive recruitment networks.

Funder

Funder

National Institutes of Health

Funding Country

Funding Country

United States

Fiscal Year Funding

Fiscal Year Funding

386566

Current Award Period

Current Award Period

2014-2019

Strategic Plan Question

Strategic Plan Question

Question 2: What is the Biology Underlying ASD?

Funder’s Project Link

Funder’s Project Link

NIH RePORTER Project Page Go to website disclaimer

Institution

Institution

Boston Children's Hospital

Institute Location

Institute Location

United States

Project Number

Project Number

5U54NS092090-03

Government or Private

Government or Private

Government

History/Related Projects

History/Related Projects

N/A

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