Data Management and Analysis Core

ABSTRACT – Data Management and Analysis Core The overall goal of the Duke Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) is to use a translational digital health and computational approach to address the critical need for more effective autism screening tools, objective outcome measures, and brain-based biomarkers that can be used in clinical trials with young autistic children. The Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC) will support coordination of high-quality data collection, management, and analysis across the Duke ACE Projects and Cores. These Projects and Cores aim to apply shared, cutting- edge computational research methods to develop effective digital health tools for early autism detection and outcome monitoring and discover novel brain-based autism biomarkers. DMAC will play a key role in the Center’s ability to achieve its goals by overseeing consistent application of scientific standards and methodological rigor. DMAC will ensure clear, replicable acquisition protocols, post-processing analytic approaches, and data management and storage across a wide range of measurement domains, including electroencephalography, computer vision analytic measures, neurocognitive ability, language/social communication, adaptive behaviors, patterns of caregiver-child interaction, and diagnostic assessments. DMAC will employ well-justified data acquisition standards and innovative analytics within a secure informatics infrastructure designed to facilitate collaboration among the synergistic ACE Projects and Cores. The primary aims of DMAC are to (1) oversee the design and implementation of experimental protocols for acquisition of all study-related measures; (2) provide data acquisition and management support across all Projects and Cores; and (3) provide support and assistance with analyses of Center Projects, and in collaboration with investigators, conduct statistical analyses to address the specific aims of Projects and Cores. DMAC also will provide timely submissions of data to the National Database for Autism Research. This Core will also provide regular reports to the Center leadership, Executive Committee, External Advisory Committee, and individual investigators related to participant recruitment and retention, timelines, deliverables, protocol deviations, quality control indicators, scientific data, and outreach and dissemination activities. By providing these essential data management and analysis functions for all Projects and Cores, DMAC will ensure that the Duke ACE reaches its goals.