Hudson Researcher Co-Leads Study Exploring Early-Life Environmental Factors Linked to ADHD and ASD

Dr. Changjie Cai, associate professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Hudson College of Public Health, is helping lead a new research effort focused on understanding how early-life environmental exposures may influence children’s brain development and behavioral health.

Dr. Cai is serving as co-principal investigator on the project, “Modifiable Early-Life Environmental Exposures and Risk Pathways to ADHD and ASD,” which recently received funding from the Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources (OSCTR). The study is led by Dr. Xiaolan Liao from the OU College of Medicine, with Dr. David Bard serving as senior mentor.

The research team will examine how environmental factors experienced during early development may contribute to risk pathways associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). By leveraging large national datasets, the team will identify patterns and potential connections between early-life exposures and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

ADHD and ASD affect many children and families, and research continues to show that early development is shaped by a complex combination of biological, environmental and social factors. Identifying modifiable environmental risk factors may help researchers develop targeted prevention strategies and interventions that support healthier outcomes for children — particularly in communities experiencing greater health challenges.

The project highlights the importance of environmental health research in understanding how the places and conditions where people live, work and grow can influence lifelong health. Through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together expertise in public health, medicine and data science, the research team aims to uncover pathways that can guide future efforts to reduce the impact of neurodevelopmental conditions.

The study represents the type of collaborative, translational research advanced through OSCTR funding, connecting scientific discovery with strategies that can improve health outcomes across Oklahoma and beyond.