The ARIA study is part of a large-scale, collaborative research initiative aimed at accelerating the understanding and treatment of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. ARIA brings together multidisciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians, and community partners to align cutting-edge neuroscience, clinical research, and emerging technologies toward meaningful clinical impact.

KiNDD Principal Investigator Dr. Shafali Jeste is co-directing the ARIA Clinical Coordinating Core (CCC) in partnership with Mustafa Sahin at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Charlotte DiStefano is the acting Clinical Director of the program and Dr. Abigail Dickinson directs the biomarkers team. 

Our team supports coordination across national ARIA Impact Centers which are conducting a clinical trial readiness study in individuals with profound autism. We aim to advance efforts to identify brain-based markers and behavioral signatures that capture the heterogeneity of autism, particularly among individuals with high support needs. 

By integrating multimodal data, including neuroimaging, physiology, and behavioral assessments, ARIA seeks to better characterize underlying neural circuitry and developmental trajectories. A central goal of this work is to bridge the gap between discovery and care by developing scalable biomarkers and advancing clinical trial readiness, ultimately translating scientific insights into targeted, personalized interventions.

Ultimately, ARIA seeks to expand therapeutic possibilities and improve quality of life for autistic individuals and their families by fostering collaboration, innovation, and open science.