CDC Autism Research Projects

Centers for Disease Control Manages ADDM, CADDRE, and SEED Programs

Oct 14, 2009 Melissa Hincha-Ownby

The U.S. CDC tracks autism prevalence rates, operates regional autism centers, and provides funding for expansive research on autism risk factors.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) manages several different autism research programs. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE), Network and the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) are three CDC autism research projects.

Although autism may not be thought of as a disease, like the flu or diabetes, the CDC is one of the most active autism research institutes in the nation. The government agency tracks autism prevalence rates in the United States through the ADDM, has established regional autism centers with CADDRE, and is working to determine early autism risk factors through SEED.

Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network

Whenever the CDC issues a report about the latest autism prevalence rates, this figure is the result of data gathered through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM).

The ADDM provides financial support for monitoring sites in 13 states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. Additionally, the CDC operates the autism monitoring network in Georgia.

The sole purpose of the ADDM is to gather data about autism spectrum disorder prevalence in these states. Not only does the network look at the overall prevalence among children, it tracks the changes in autism prevalence over time, compares the rates between different groups of children, and provides more specific information on the autism rates in specific areas of the country.

Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology Network

The CDC operates autism regional centers in six different states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. These hubs are part of the Centers for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) Network.

In 2009, the regional centers were focusing on the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) Program but in prior years, CADDRE focused on several other projects. CADDRE has worked alongside the ADDM to monitor autism prevalence rates, help raise autism awareness, and conduct studies that examined common factors among children on the autism spectrum.

Study to Explore Early Development

SEED, the Study to Explore Early Development, is currently the largest study in the United States focusing on autism risk factors. The SEED research study is being conducted in California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. These states received their current round of funding in 2006, with five years of funding provided by the CDC.

In addition to researching the risk factors of a child developing an autism spectrum disorder, the program also looks at children with other developmental disabilities. This will help the CDC determine which characteristics are specific to children on the autism spectrum and which are common to children with a wide range of developmental disabilities.

As autism prevalence rates continue to attract the interest of scientists and researchers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will continue to play a major role in researching and financing autism studies.

The copyright of the article CDC Autism Research Projects in Autism/Asperger's Syndrome is owned by Melissa Hincha-Ownby. Permission to republish CDC Autism Research Projects in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

CDC Tracks Autism Prevalence Rates.