Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are highly heritable, however few genetic causes have been identified and the prevalence has increased recently, suggesting that alternative genetic mechanisms may contribute, including maternal genetic effects or environmental factors that intersect with genetics to cause ASDs. We are currently working with collaborators to investigate a large pregnancy cohort with a nested case-control study and health as well as immune biomarker data. We hope to identify novel genetic maternal factors that affect risk of autism, potentially by influencing the in utero environment early in neurodevelopment. Identification of novel maternal genetic factors or genes mediating environmental exposures will provide insight into biological mechanisms, markers for prediction of ASD risk, and potential ways to reduce the risk of autism in some families.
Current work:
- Genetic survey of biomarkers at early and mid-pregnancy identifies pregnancy-specialized immune regulation. Cakir M, Traglia M, Alexeeff S, Ames JL, Ashwood P, Grosvenor LP, Gunderson EP, Kim DHJ, Liang JW, Qian Y, Sahagun E, Yolken R, Van de Water J, Croen LA, Weiss LA. PLoS Genet. 2026 Jun 30. (PMID: 42378311 external site (opens in a new window) )
Past work:
- Inflammatory conditions during pregnancy and risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. external site (opens in a new window)
- A profile and review of findings from the Early Markers for Autism study: unique contributions from a population-based case-control study in California. Lyall K, Ames JL, Pearl M, Traglia M, Weiss LA, Windham GC, Kharrazi M, Yoshida CK, Yolken R, Volk HE, Ashwood P, Van de Water J, Croen LA. Mol Autism. 2021 Mar 18. (PMID: 33736683 external site (opens in a new window) )
- Cross-genetic determination of maternal and neonatal immune mediators during pregnancy. Traglia M, Croen LA, Jones KL, Heuer LS, Yolken R, Kharrazi M, DeLorenze GN, Ashwood P, Van de Water J, Weiss LA. Genome Med. 2018 Aug 22. (PMID: 30134952 external site (opens in a new window) )
- Independent maternal and fetal genetic effects on midgestational circulating levels of environmental pollutants. Traglia M, Croen LA, Lyall K, Windham GC, Kharrazi M, DeLorenze GN, Torres AR, Weiss LA. G3 (Bethesda). 2017 Apr 3. (PMID: 28235828 external site (opens in a new window) )