Dr. Chandley Receives Funding to Study Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dr. Michelle Chandley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences in the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health has received a Major Grant award from the Research Development Committee. 

Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 59 children according the Centers for Disease Control with as many as 1 in 42 boys. Currently, there are no cures, effective drugs, well-accepted animal models, or reliable diagnostic markers for the disorder.  Autism has largely been characterized as a genetic disorder. Yet the concordance rate between monozygotic twins, those that share identical genetic heritage, ranges between 40% and 90% demonstrating that additional environmental factors likely contribute to the development of the disorder. Human epidemiology studies have demonstrated multiple associations between inflammation and autism spectrum disorder. Situational environmental exposures in mice can affect the gut microbiome, peripheral cytokine levels and neuro-inflammation producing heterogeneous behavioral outcomes. Therefore, it seems likely that the exploration of potential inflammatory mediators during early development could reveal clues to the pathogenesis of the disorder.

“The need to study animal models of autism spectrum disorder behaviors is critical,” stated Dr. Chandley.  “The results of this study could provide essential evidence regarding the validity of animal models used to investigate social behaviors as well as uncover potential therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorder.”

Most studies that have contributed to understanding environmental exposures focused on exposures after birth. Dr. Chandley’s research will focus on exposure during gestation and determine if maternal immune and microbiotic alterations are present that could promote aberrant neuro-inflammation in the offspring.