ReCHARGE and ECHO Studies

In 2003, the CHARGE (Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) Study began enrolling three groups of children aged 2-5 years: with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); with other (not ASD) developmental delays (DD); and from the general population with typical development (TD). CHARGE has generated a body of new results on prenatal exposures, such as pesticides, air pollution, medications and maternal nutrition, in relation to ASD and DD. For the Re-CHARGE ECHO program, CHARGE children from all three diagnostic groups will be followed up at either ages 8-12 or, for those now older, ages 13-19, to understand developmental trajectories for each of these three groups (baseline DD, ASD, or TD at baseline). Outcomes of interest will be longitudinal change in diagnoses, cognitive and adaptive function, and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety or depression.

The ECHO (Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes) Study brings together 36 cohorts of children from over 80 sites across the country, including The ReCHARGE Study at UC Davis.  ECHO will study health broadly, including childhood asthma, other respiratory problems, obesity, diabetes, sleep, neuro-developmental conditions such as autism and ADHD, and birth outcomes like prematurity and birth defects. With data from 50,000 children combined, ECHO will help us understand how to improve health during childhood and beyond.

Families with children who participated in the CHARGE study can join ReCHARGE if the child:

• Is between 8 and 12 years or between 13 and 19 years of age by 2023
• Able to come to the UC Davis MIND Institute

• Come to the UC Davis MIND Institute to have your child evaluated
• Answer questions about your child’s health, home environment, and any changes since your CHARGE visit
• Provide urine, blood, and other samples from your child
• Give permission for study staff to obtain your child’s medical and service provider records.
• Find out if your child’s grandparents are okay with our team contacting them to ask about their health and home environment

For your convenience, most of the information we collect will be by telephone or take-home questionnaires.

By participating in the ReCHARGE and ECHO Studies, your family will contribute to a better understanding of how our environment can be improved in schools, communities, and homes to improve children’s lives: their achievements, their relationships with others, and their health.