The BioGENE Study: 
​Biomarkers of Genetic  Etiology of NEurodevelopmental disorders

What is BioGENE?
​The BioGENE Study started at the University of Alabama in 2020 and has moved with Dr. Hudac to the University of South Carolina starting August 2022.

​Our Goal:
The goal of this study is to help us understand how the brain works in individuals with rare genetic events linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). We hope to target as many genes as possible. See the list to the right for gene groups we are recruiting based upon current funding. 

Study details​
Unlike many other Psychology/Neuroscience studies where participants are asked to come to a lab or neuroimaging facility, the BioGENE study comes to you! Participants have the ability to choose where they would like the study session to take place (either at their residential home, community library, or hotel). Scroll below to see Dr. Hudac's wicked-fast assembly of our EEG system!

During the EEG Session... 
​Participants will watch a series of videos and play games  while wearing our comfortable EEG net and a heart rate monitor. During this time, parents will be asked to fill out surveys and questionnaires. After the EEG session, participants will also have the opportunity to play some "brain games" on our iPad. 

Your commitment...
The BioGENE Study will take 2-4 hours and can be completed in 1 visit. This includes the set up and take down of equipment in addition to the EEG session.

Who can participate? 
We work with people from birth to age 90 years who have a confirmed disruptive mutation associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Enrollment is based upon current funding.​

Compensation

• Participants with genetic mutations will receive $50 for completing the experimental EEG session and $10 for completing our iPad games.
• Parents/caregivers will receive $20/hour for completing surveys and questionnaires (<1 hour expected)​ 

Follow this link to read or download a social story that may be helpful!  ​

We see many participants at Family Group meet-ups. See current recruitment pages  (GRIN2B Page, SCN2A Page, Searchlight 2022 Page) for upcoming opportunities.  

Current recruitment

We have current funding in support of enrollment for the following groups:
GRIN2B Page
SCN2A Page
Simons Searchlight 2022 Conference

• CSNK2A1
• HIVEP2
• MED13L
• SETBP1

We work with many other groups and are currently seeking new funding for:

• CHD8
• DYRK1A

Research roadtrip! In 2021, the BioGENE study went on the road to see families across the U.S.

Video of how we set up the equipment when conducting mobile data collection

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Examples of how we put on an EEG net

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