# 3/3-Effectiveness Trial of the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Model using Mobile Technology for Toddlers with Autism Identified from Early Screening in Primary Care

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2022 · $251,160

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
In response to RFA-MH-18-700, the goal of this collaborative R01 is to demonstrate the therapeutic value and
community-wide implementability of an early intervention (EI) platform for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) that is completely virtual, from recruitment through intervention. This platform—Early Social Interaction
Mobile Coaching (ESI-MC) deploys individual telehealth sessions with coaching and feedback to help families
embed intervention in everyday activities. Specifically, we will conduct an effectiveness trial of ESI-MC to address
the important question of whether starting evidence-based intervention earlier leads to better outcomes than
starting later. We will address this question by using a modified stepped wedge design and blended
implementation research to analyze data obtained with ESI-MC start at 18, 24, or 30 months. We will
diagnostically ascertain 240 children from a pool of 360 18-month-olds with early signs of autism, 60 in each of
four US regions (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Coast). They will be recruited using a new virtual
platform—My Baby Navigator—linking a new surveillance and screening tool, an app to upload video-recorded
home observations and telehealth intervention sessions, and a package of educational resources. The 240
children will be randomly assigned to one of three ESI-MC timing groups. We will measure child active
engagement and social communication change every 6 months as the primary outcome variables. Outcome
measures of developmental level, autism symptoms, and adaptive behavior will be examined to measure
differential treatment effects. We will achieve these objectives through research AIMS: 1. Compare the
effectiveness of ESI-MC implemented for 6 months on proximal outcome measures of child active engagement,
child social communication change, parent transactional supports, and parent evidence-based strategy use (1A)
with Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) at 24 and 30 months and (1B) across treatment timing groups initiated at 18, 24,
or 30 months. 2. Examine (2A) change in parent transactional supports and evidence-based strategy use as the
mechanism for change and (2B) individual child and family characteristics that moderate response to treatment.
3. Compare the effectiveness of intervention on secondary outcome measures of child developmental level,
autism symptoms, and adaptive behavior (3A) with Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) at 24 and 30 months and (3B)
across treatment timing groups initiated at 18, 24, or 30 months. 4. Explore outcomes at 36 months, individual
patterns of change from 18-36 months, and predictors of change across treatment timing groups by estimating
child growth trajectories. 5. Examine barriers and promotive factors impacting widespread dissemination,
implementation and sustainability across racial, socioeconomic and geographic lines. Maximizing the use of
mobile technology, ESI-MC offers the prospect of a community-viable, scalable and sustainable tre...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10452750
- **Project number:** 5R01MH127120-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine Lord
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $251,160
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-16 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10452750

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10452750, 3/3-Effectiveness Trial of the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Model using Mobile Technology for Toddlers with Autism Identified from Early Screening in Primary Care (5R01MH127120-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10452750. Licensed CC0.

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