# Translating Measures of Visual Experience to Children with Autism and Down Syndrome

> **NIH NIH KL2** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2020 · $171,024

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Background: The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) has a sustained record of
accomplishment of training KL2 Scholars through its Career development, Education and Research Training
(CERT) Program. KL2 scholars are recruited from the 3 major research universities in the state: Indiana
University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame, which enriches their experience and expands
the breadth of translational research. The Indiana CTSI is uniquely positioned to also expand research and
training opportunities to include training related to Down syndrome (DS). Career Goals: My long-term career
goal is to build a translational research program that integrates insights from basic research in both typical and
atypical development and knowledge from the stakeholders in the community to develop measurement
techniques that improve the delivery and implementation of interventions. The overall objective of this
application is progress towards that goal by determining whether real-time visual experience within home
learning contexts is potentially an effective new outcome measurement tool. Research Project: Children with
Down syndrome (DS) have a behavioral phenotype that presents with delays in language development that
impact all aspects of life. Although children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) are typically characterized
with a very different behavioral phenotype, they too often present with language delays. Despite efforts to
develop new, effective interventions, progress has been slowed in part due to issues with measurement tools.
Dynamic aspects of visual sampling heavily impact the process of language learning in typically developing
children. The objective for this research proposal is to determine how real-time visual experience (i.e.
sampling) within home learning contexts impacts language learning for children with developmental delays as
a first step in determining whether visual experience has potential as a new outcome measure. To accomplish
this goal, children with DS, with autism, and typically developing peers will wear head-mounted cameras in
their home during regular daily activities. Videos will be coded for patterns of visual sampling. Career
Development: This Administrative Supplement to the KL2 Institutional Career Development Award will provide
the necessary training required to launch an independent research career that includes a focus on children
with DS. Training activities include: immersive clinical experience with DS, advanced training in the collection,
processing, and analysis of visual experience data, and continued professional development. Mentorship: An
interdisciplinary team from across institutions within the Indiana CTSI network supports training activities within
this training plan: Dr. Linda Smith (Indiana University, Bloomington), Dr. Marilyn Bull (Indiana University,
School of Medicine), Dr. Mandy Rispoli (Purdue University), and Dr. Chen Yu (In...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10117929
- **Project number:** 3KL2TR002530-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** BROWNSYNE M TUCKER EDMONDS
- **Activity code:** KL2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $171,024
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-18 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10117929

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10117929, Translating Measures of Visual Experience to Children with Autism and Down Syndrome (3KL2TR002530-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10117929. Licensed CC0.

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