# BUILDS MARBLES: Biorepository Upkeep and Infrastructure for Longitudinal Data Sharing for MARBLES

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2020 · $392,497

## Abstract

Abstract
 The MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies: Learning Early Signs) Study was launched in 2006 by
the UC Davis MIND Institute and Center for Children's Environmental Health as the first epidemiologic cohort
of younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to begin follow-up during (and before) the
prenatal period when ASD and other neurodevelopmental outcomes are likely to originate.1-7 In contrast to
population-based cohorts, which require very large sample sizes given a relatively low prevalence of ASD
(currently 1 in 68)8 and typically are not able to conduct gold standard diagnosis of ASD, the enriched risk
design takes advantage of participants at exceptionally high risk for developing ASD and other
neurodevelopmental outcomes, achieving tremendous efficiencies. Previous cohorts of high-risk younger
siblings recruited postnatally have not addressed non-inherited and potentially modifiable etiologic factors.9
Early enrollment provides an opportunity to examine a broad array of environmental exposures and their
mechanisms, while simultaneously allowing thorough search for early biologic markers.10
 Given increasing prevalence of ASD,8,11 it is more critical now than ever to invest in studies identifying
emerging environmental factors responsible for increasing risk of these neurodevelopmental disorders and the
mechanisms underlying their etiology, which are currently not well-understood. This project addresses both
gaps by maintaining and enhancing the resource infrastructure of the MARBLES enriched-risk cohort.
Retention of this cohort with deep evaluation of risk factors, mechanistic markers, and outcomes will be critical
to evaluation and early identification of newly emerging etiologic factors for ASD in a susceptible population,
serving as a canary in a coal-mine for identifying exposures that influence neurodevelopment. Our cohort's
data and specimens will permit analyses of new questions on exposures in relation to well-defined clinical
neurodevelopmental outcomes, and our rich characterization of mechanistic biomarkers could identify
pathways and signatures of susceptibility involved. We propose to continue to enroll and follow-up participants
of one of the only enriched-risk ASD U.S. cohorts with prospectively collected pregnancy data and biosamples
that is currently in no cost extension (NCE). In addition, we propose to further develop and maintain our
repository infrastructure for the expansive data and sample repositories in order to expand collaborative
sharing and facilitate investigation of newly-emerging environmental exposures and molecular mechanistic
markers in relation to risk and presentation of ASD and other adverse neurodevelopmental conditions. Finally,
we plan to validate and reliability test environmental exposure questions and measures for use in future
studies. Completion of these aims will assist collaborative sharing of our vast collection of data and biosamples
to facilitate investi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965652
- **Project number:** 5R24ES028533-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Deborah Hall Bennett
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $392,497
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-30 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965652

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965652, BUILDS MARBLES: Biorepository Upkeep and Infrastructure for Longitudinal Data Sharing for MARBLES (5R24ES028533-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965652. Licensed CC0.

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