The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) Autism Research and Engagement Core team members are consultants to SPARK (Simons Powering Autism Research), a long-term study of autism spectrum disorder. Those members include Cheryl Cohen, MS, director of online and community programs; J. Kiely Law, MD, MPH, research director; Marina Sarris, MA, web content administrator; and Jaimie Toroney, MHS, research manager.
SPARK celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, marking a decade of advancing autism research through one of the largest autism studies in the United States. To reflect on the impact of the project and what’s ahead, SPARK recently hosted an online seminar, “Celebrating Ten Years of SPARK—Ten Areas Where SPARK Increased Our Understanding of Autism,” featuring researchers, community members and leaders discussing key discoveries, participant contributions and future directions in autism research.
Sarris contributed an article, “You Have Questions—The SPARK Help Desk Has Answers,” to SPARK’s website, where it posted on March 4. The article explains how the SPARK Help Desk supports participants in the SPARK autism research study by answering questions, troubleshooting issues and helping families navigate things like account updates and DNA saliva kits. It also highlights how the help desk plays a key role in improving participant experiences while supporting one of the largest autism research studies in the U.S.
Sarris also authored “What’s the Link Between Autism and GI Problems?” for SPARK’s website, where it posted on March 10. The article explores the high prevalence of gastrointestinal issues in autistic individuals, including constipation and abdominal pain, and examines how these symptoms can significantly affect daily functioning, behavior and quality of life.
On April 14, SPARK published a third article by Sarris, “Decoding the Medical Complexities of an Autistic Son.” The article follows a mother’s years-long journey to understand her autistic son’s complex medical conditions, highlighting the challenges of navigating seizures, heart issues, genetic testing and the broader need for research and support for people with profound autism.
Lastly, on April 29, SPARK published Sarris’s article “How Many Kinds of Autism Exist?” The article explains how autism presents differently from person to person, discusses the history and limitations of autism subtypes and labels, and explores why researchers now view autism as a broad spectrum with diverse traits and support needs.
The Autism and Research Engagement Core produced two new SPARK Research Match Summary Reports, which provide valuable insights into critical topics related to autism. The first report, “How Do Gastrointestinal Symptoms Affect Autistic Youth?”, summarizes research exploring the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and autism, including how issues such as constipation, abdominal pain and gut-related differences may affect behavior, communication, sleep and quality of life. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic individuals to improve overall well-being and support more comprehensive healthcare approaches.
The second report, “Does an Autism Diagnosis Change How Parents Respond to Their Child’s Negative Emotions?”, summarizes research examining how autistic children and adolescents may experience and express negative emotions differently from their neurotypical peers, including having challenges with emotion regulation, anxiety and frustration. It emphasizes that having a better understanding of emotional experiences in autism can help inform more supportive interventions, communication strategies and mental healthcare approaches.
On July 8, the SPARK autism study published an article, "Making Back to School Easier for Students with Autism and Their Families," featuring two experts from Kennedy Krieger Institute, Elgiz Sener, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist, and Mallory Legg, Esq., of Project HEAL.