Disorders of learning and development affect up to 5 in 100 individuals in the United States. A subset affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) includes approximately one in every 200 children. Recent advances in neuroscience, including neurogenetics, systems neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience, have the promise of significantly advancing our understanding of the causes of ASD and other pervasive developmental disorders, and help in their treatment. To be effective, however, a research effort requires close and synergistic interaction between neuroscientists, cognitive scientists and clinicians.

The Brain Development and Disorders Project (BDDP) was conceived in 2003 as a collaboration between the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT and the Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital. The Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s largest centers dealing with disorders of brain development. The Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT has world-class researchers studying basic mechanisms of brain development and function.

The project aims to merge the clinical strengths of the Developmental Medicine Center with the research strengths of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.

The goal of the project is to use advanced research tools and methods to develop accurate diagnosis and treatment for children with developmental disabilities such as ASD and related developmental disorders.

Project members include clinicians from the Developmental Medicine Center at Children’s Hospital and neuroscientists and cognitive scientists from the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. The combination of clinicians and scientists gives this research in particular a great strength in that it is a comprehensive effort with a wide range of different perspectives on similar issues. Specific projects include the study of vision, movement, language, touch and cognitive functions in children with ASD.

The BDDP began with a grant from the Anne and Paul Marcus Family Foundation. It has continued most recently with a grant from the Simons Foundation.