# Core D: Behavioral Phenotyping Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $231,414

## Abstract

The Behavioral Phenotyping Core (Core D) is designed to support three overarching aims: To support and
promote innovative and replicable behavioral phenotyping data in clinical populations people with IDD (Aim 1)
and in rodent models of IDD (Aim 2); and to facilitate translational research incorporating human and animal
data approaches (Aim 3). Previously supported iterations of this Core have been highly generative in terms of
grant submission and manuscript support. The guiding thematic focus of the newly designed Core supports the
“non-traditional” emphasis articulated for the overarching goals of the IDDRC in incorporating non-traditional
researchers, non-traditional populations, and non-traditional approaches into every facet of the core. The Core
will accomplish these goals by providing six major services: (i) Consultation. The three Co-Directors (Peters,
Harrison, Wallace) have complementary expertise in human and animal phenotyping including specific
experience with project design and analysis approaches. Consultation services will serve to support rigorous
experimental design by IDD researchers and, importantly, support non-IDD researchers who wish to develop
IDD-relevant projects despite lack of previous experience (non-traditional researchers). Consultation services
are supported by comprehensive (ii) training for Core users. Training includes hands-on support for
equipment use (animal and human research) and clinical assessment training. A new focus of the Core is to
support the use of wearable devices and the use of apps for in-home behavioral observation in order to provide
the opportunity for non-traditional populations to participate in research. Training will therefore also extend to
non-scientist care-givers for in-home testing. Key to the Core’s success in prior funding periods has been the
ability to provide (iii) access to equipment and facilities. State-of-the-art facilities and equipment for human
and animal testing will continue to be supported for IDD researchers to use on a discounted fee-for-service
basis. (iv) Full-service phenotyping is now offered for both human and animal testing conducted by trained
research technicians. This service will permit non-traditional researchers to perform IDD-related research
regardless of IDD-related experience, increase testing throughput, particularly for smaller laboratories, and
support experimental rigor. The Core will continue to offer (v) scientific Instrumentation fabrication services
for specialized equipment for human and animal projects. The final service (vi) data integration and
conceptual development is designed as a complement to consultation service for basic science investigators
who wish expand their work into human clinical populations, as well as for clinically-oriented investigators
wishing to expand into animal models. This truly translational service will enable similar methods and models
to be utilized or adapted across species to directly measure phenotypically...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10229596
- **Project number:** 5P50HD103537-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Fiona Edith Harrison
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $231,414
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-06 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10229596

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10229596, Core D: Behavioral Phenotyping Core (5P50HD103537-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10229596. Licensed CC0.

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