title: The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED): a multisite epidemiologic study of autism by the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) network.
abstract: The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a multisite investigation addressing knowledge gaps in autism phenotype and etiology, aims to: (1) characterize the autism behavioral phenotype and associated developmental, medical, and behavioral conditions and (2) investigate genetic and environmental risks with emphasis on immunologic, hormonal, gastrointestinal, and sociodemographic characteristics. SEED uses a case-control design with population-based ascertainment of children aged 2-5 years with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children in two control groups-one from the general population and one with non-ASD developmental problems. Data from parent-completed questionnaires, interviews, clinical evaluations, biospecimen sampling, and medical record abstraction focus on the prenatal and early postnatal periods. SEED is a valuable resource for testing hypotheses regarding ASD characteristics and causes.
authors.affiliation: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. dschendel@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Diana E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schendel
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diguiseppi
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Croen
authors.forename: M Daniele
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fallin
authors.forename: Philip L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schieve
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grether
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newschaffer
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinto-Martin
authors.forename: Cordelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Gayle C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Windham
authors.forename: Aimee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Arthur S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aylsworth
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blaskey
authors.forename: Chyrise
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Casara J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Homayoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farzadegan
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giarelli
authors.forename: Marques
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hepburn
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaparich
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landa
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levenseller
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyerer
authors.forename: Mohammad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: Andria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ratchford
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rusyniak
authors.forename: Stuart K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Souders
authors.forename: Patrick Aaron
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Marshalyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeargin-Allsopp
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires