Amplifying the scientific communication of the project: Effects of biological and environmental factors and psychosocial intervention on early neurodevelopmental pathways in vulnerable children

• Grant number: 24/00553-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Shephard
• Grantee: Cassia da Silva Moraes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/05964-1 - Effects of biological and environmental factors and psychosocial intervention on early neurodevelopmental pathways in vulnerable children, AP.JP

Abstract

The current proposal for the Communicate Science call aims to expand the scientific communication of the Young Investigator project funded by FAPESP, "Effects of biological and environmental factors and psychosocial intervention on early neurodevelopmental pathways in vulnerable children", known widely by its social name "Projeto Floreah", led by Dr Elizabeth Shephard at the University of São Paulo. Projeto Floreah is the first longitudinal study to investigate the early development of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the Brazilian context and to evaluate, in a randomized controlled trial in Brazil, the efficacy of a preemptive intervention for infants who are more likely to be diagnosed with autism or ADHD later in childhood. Therefore, the project will provide crucial scientific evidence about the early signs of autism and ADHD in infants and preemptive intervention approaches in a new sociocultural context. The participation of this project in the Communicate Science program will be crucial for two reasons. First, to ensure that the results of this project have a positive impact on the care of babies more prone to autism and ADHD in Brazil, it is essential that the findings are disseminated widely and with the level of professionalism of scientific journalism. Second, widespread dissemination of the project through the Communicate Science program will help recruit new families to participate in the project with their babies, which will be crucial to reach the target of 300 participating babies.