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The Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is the nation's first network of
hospitals and multidisciplinary professionals aimed at bridging gaps in
knowledge and understanding and improving medical treatment for
individuals with autism. Through the ATN, children receive comprehensive
care from professionals who have extensive experience working with the
medical issues that arise with autism. In keeping with the collaborative
nature of the ATN, professionals in the network share current best
practices with a wide variety of other clinical programs and have a real
commitment to treatment – based on strong clinical experience – and to
finding better ways to identify and manage the health of children with
autism.
What are we doing at the Collaborative Autism Institute?
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, an ATN Network member, has
linked two highly productive autism research programs to form the
Collaborative Autism Institute, dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment
of autism and related disorders.
The Autism Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Center
for Autism and Developmental Disorders at Western Psychiatric Institute
and Clinic serve preschoolers, children, and adolescents who have or are
suspected of having autism, pervasive developmental disorders,
Asperger’s syndrome, and related disorders. The two programs offer
diagnostic evaluations, family support, parent training, behavioral
consultation, resources and information, and medication management.
The Collaborative Autism Institute also provides access to a range of
medical services addressing sleep, gastrointestinal, genetic-metabolic,
and immune disorders often associated with autism spectrum disorders.
Children and their families who enroll in the ATN will participate in a
research study that will follow the child’s medical treatment for up to
three years. Participants will receive a comprehensive diagnostic and
medical evaluation and return annually for follow-up. In addition,
families may be contacted in the future regarding other research
opportunities.
Referrals to the UPMC Autism Treatment Network should be directed to:
For families with a
child age 7 and under: 412-692-8404
For families with a child age 8 and above: 412-235-5412
AIR-P
Network Pilot Projects The
Autism Treatment Network has recently announced new subcontract support
for research proposals under the Autism Intervention Research Network on
Physical Health (AIR-P Network)-Pilot Projects on Treatment Research
Affecting Autism. Two particular levels of research were targeted:
Level 1, supporting research by junior-level investigators for
short-term (1year) pilot studies; and Level 2, supporting both junior
and senior-level investigators for pilot studies of up to 2 years.
Level 1
"Bone Mineral Density in
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders," which will be led by Ann Neumeyer, M.D.-
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)/LADDERS; collaborating sites
include Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical
Center. "Defining the Relation of Sleep
Disturbance in Autism Spectrum Disorder to Psychiatric and Behavioral Comorbidities,"
under the leadership of Suzanne Goldman, Ph.D. -Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Level 2
"Prevalence
of Creatine Deficiency Syndromes and Genetic Variability in Creatine
Metabolism in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Pilot Study,"
under the leadership of Andreas Schulze,
M.D., Ph.D. -University of Toronto; collaborating sites include MGH/LADDERS
and the University of Colorado.
"Markers of Iron Status and
Metabolism in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders," which will be led by
Ann Reynolds, M.D. - University of Colorado. This collaborative
effort includes the University of Pittsburgh, University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the University of
Rochester.
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Investigators
Autism Treatment Network