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Research

Unpacking the complex nature of the autism epidemic

The etiology of autism spectrum disorders is unknown but there are claims of increasing prevalence in many countries.

Rural Sibling Study

We want to hear from siblings living outside of Australian cities!

2025 International Siblings Day

National Siblings Day is a holiday dedicated to celebrating the bond between siblings. It is a time to recognize the importance of siblings, whether they are brothers, sisters, step-siblings, or even those who feel like family.

The Sibling Project

The Sibling Project focuses on children, adolescents and emerging adults who have a sibling with a disability, investigating their mental health, relationships and quality of life.

Research

Autism likelihood in infants born to mothers with asthma is associated with blood inflammatory gene biomarkers in pregnancy

Mothers with asthma or atopy have a higher likelihood of having autistic children, with maternal immune activation in pregnancy implicated as a mechanism. This study aimed to determine, in a prospective cohort of mothers with asthma and their infants, whether inflammatory gene expression in pregnancy is associated with likelihood of future autism. 

Research

Developmental Relationship-Based Interventions for Autistic Children

Andrew Videos Whitehouse Watch and listen to Andrew PhD Deputy Director (Research); Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at The Kids

Research

The valence-specific empathy imbalance hypothesis of autism: The role of autistic traits, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and gender differences

Individuals exhibiting pronounced autistic traits (e.g., social differences and specialised interests) may struggle with cognitive empathy (i.e., the ability to infer others' emotions), although the relationship with affective empathy (i.e., the ability to share others' emotions) is less clear in that higher levels of autistic traits may be linked with increased affective empathy for negative emotions but reduced affective empathy for positive emotions. The current study investigates this empathy profile and whether alexithymia and emotion dysregulation help to explain it.

News & Events

Frankie and Friends app

Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia and University of Western Australia have recently published data describing the use of an attention training game designed for school-aged children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

News & Events

Australia’s first Autism Biobank to help improve early diagnoses

A world leading Autism biobank has been officially launched in Australia today by the Minister for Health, the Hon Sussan Ley.