BASIS, Birkbeck College

Participant's Lead

Project Staff

Partner Presentation

The British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS) is a collaborative research network for the study of infants at-risk for autism that was established in 2008. The network has grown rapidly in the UK, and now also includes a number of European and Australian researchers. BASIS recruits families with an infant at-risk by virtue of having an older sibling already ASD diagnosed. Using state-of-the-art techniques for studying brain and behaviour in infants, BASIS scientists investigate the earliest emerging brain and behavioral signs of autism over the first 3 years, potentially enabling both a clearer understanding of basic biomarkers and identifying targets for earlier and more effective intervention. BASIS is Europe's largest program for studying infants at-risk for ASD with over 270 families recruited to date.

BASIS is based at the Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development (BC) at Birkbeck, University of London. Established in 1998, the BC is housed in a purpose-designed building that contains extensive laboratory space with state-of-the-art EEG, ERP, NIRS, eye-tracking and behavioral testing facilities. BC has an international reputation for training and research in human functional brain development using these methods, resulting in it being designated a EU Marie Curie Training Centre of Excellence in 2006 (renewed for 2011-14). Members of the BC have won various international awards, including the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2006. The BC maintains a database of over 2,000 infants allowing for carefully selected low-risk controls. BC is part of the Department of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck that is very highly rated for its research (5th/76 in RAE 2008).