California Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE)
01/2001 -

The California Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE) works in partnership with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Regional Centers, Northern Calfiornia Kaiser-Permanente, clinics, and other providers throughout California to build a comprehensive surveillance system to count children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). California CADDRE also conducts studies in California to investigate possible causes and risk factors associated with autism.

Some of California CADDRE's current activities include:

• Conducting studies to identify early biologic markers of autism
• Conducting studies to evaluate prenatal factors that may contribute to autism in some children, including environmental exposure
• Conducting studies to identify genetic and non-genetic factors in autism
• Facilitating screening of young children for autism and conducting surveillance
• Collaborating with the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sites in the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED)
• Collaborating closely with other researchers in California and elsewhere
• Working with a Community Advisory Board of parents to advise us on important issues for families
• Working with culturally diverse parents who have children with autism to create information on autism in multiple languages

Some of California CADDRE's current studies include:

· Surveillance and Descriptive Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders

· The California Autism Study of Twins and Multiples

· The Kaiser Permanente Childhood Autism Perinatal Study (CHAPS)

· Hazardous Air Pollutants as Risk Factors for Autism (HAPS)

· Early Markers for Autism (EMA)

· Identification of Early Biologic Markers to Identify Infants at High Risk for Developing Autism

· Monitoring of Early Childhood Autism (MECA)

If you have a child with autism who was born in California, you may contact us to see if you are eligible to enroll in one of our studies. To receive more information on our research and outreach activities or to request information on autism, please contact:

Gayle Windham, PhD, Principal Investigator
Karen Smith, Outreach Coordinator
California CADDRE
California Department of Public Health
Environmental Health Investigations Branch
850 Marina Bay Parkway, Blg P, 3rd Floor, Richmond, Ca 94804
Phone: 510-620-3700 Fax: 510-620-3720 Email: autism@dhs.ca.gov

Para mas informacion sobre el autismo en espanol, comuniquese con: Virginia Orozco Heffernan, CADDRE Educadora de Salud, 510-620-3624.