# Identifying the role of emotion processes in core features of Autism Spectrum Disorder

> **NIH NIH K23** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2020 · $182,345

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 This is a K23 application for Dr. Vanessa H. Bal, an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at the University of
California San Francisco. Dr. Bal is establishing herself as a clinician-scientist who conducts interdisciplinary,
patient-oriented research aimed at advancing understanding of the biological bases of Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD) symptoms. This K23 will provide Dr. Bal with essential support to accomplish the following
goals: 1) develop expertise in the theoretical basis of affective science; 2) gain methodological proficiency
(collection and analysis of psychophysiological and facial behavior data) to conduct future emotion studies in
children with ASD across the range of ability (e.g., minimally verbal); 3) gain familiarity with the neural systems
mediating emotion processes; 4) obtain the knowledge necessary to use laboratory-based findings to
understand mechanisms underlying clinical measures of socioemotional impairments; 5) learn to translate
clinical phenotypes to animal model and treatment development studies; 6) acquire knowledge needed to
conduct longitudinal research with neurodevelopmental populations; and 7) develop an independent
interdisciplinary research career. To achieve these goals, Dr. Bal has assembled a multidisciplinary mentoring
team including a primary mentor: Dr. Howard Rosen (a neurologist with expertise in psychophysiology and the
organization of emotional systems in the brain); four co-mentors: Drs. Virginia Sturm (a neuropsychologist with
expertise in laboratory assessment of emotion and social behavior in patients), Stephen Hinshaw (a
psychologist with expertise in developmental psychopathology and longitudinal studies of neurodevelopmental
disorders), and Matthew State (a psychiatrist and geneticist with expertise in interdisciplinary ASD research);
and a statistical advisor, Dr. Kevin Delucchi (a biostatistician with expertise in psychiatric research).
 The proposed project explores the relationship between emotional processes (reactivity and regulation)
and socioemotional dysfunction in ASD. Dr. Bal will use laboratory-based paradigms to measure physiological
(cardiac, respiratory, electrodermal) and behavioral (facial muscles) emotional reactivity and regulation in child-
ren with ASD and typically development (Aims 1 & 2). She will then integrate laboratory findings with clinical
measures of socioemotional functioning and ASD symptoms to determine the real-world impact of emotional
impairments (Aim 3). The goal of Dr. Bal's research is to identify mechanisms underlying socioemotional
impairments that can be used to delineate associations between genetic risk factors and clinical outcomes.
This project is innovative because it explores the potential role of emotion processing in ASD symptoms, using
well-established, translational methods from affective science that have clarified mechanisms underlying
clinical impairments in other patient groups. Results will significantly con...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001024
- **Project number:** 5K23MH115166-04
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** Vanessa Hus Bal
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $182,345
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-05 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001024

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001024, Identifying the role of emotion processes in core features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (5K23MH115166-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001024. Licensed CC0.

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