Children’s Neurodevelopmental Assessment Core

Supports outcome assessments for clinical trials that include measures of development, cognition, quality of life, adaptive functioning, and mental health

What is this offering?

Working with MICHR, the Children’s Neurodevelopmental Assessment Core (C-NAC) supports outcome assessments for clinical trials that include measures of development, cognition, quality of life, adaptive functioning, and mental health.

Although in some cases (for example, clinical trials from pharmaceutical companies), specific tests may be dictated by a contract, instrument selection is often part of the grant development process. C-NAC facilitates consultations between research teams and faculty psychologists so that the measures proposed are developmentally appropriate, up to date, and specifically aligned with the research questions to be answered.

Assessments offered include the following:

• Developmental assessments – Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III, Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Differential Ability Scales-II, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2
• Neuropsychological assessments – Wechsler tests; tests of attention, executive functions, memory, visuospatial, academic achievement, motor tests.
• Questionnaires – parent and self-report of psychological status; development, adaptive behavior questionnaires; autism instruments.

The type of consultation, supervision, and direct services needed varies; specific tests may require faculty expertise, a research technician with or without faculty supervision, or direct assessments from both faculty and technician. In some instances, the tests must be administered by a PhD psychologist.

How this advances translational science

Developing innovations that address persistent challenges to advancing translational progress.