Figure 1.

Translation cycle of ASD research. Epidemiological studies of ASD patients can identify abnormal genes and underlying risk factors, including genetic mutations, copy number variations (CNVs), environmental exposures, and maternal immune activation during pregnancy. Based on these data, different animal models will be developed and characterized for their variations. A comprehensive analysis of animal models combined with human pathology to understand the pathogenesis of ASD holds promise as a new therapeutic strategy to feed back to patients.