Communication and Learning--Research on social, cognitive, and communication development, and on the effects of language and other social interventions on developmental outcomes of children who have developmental disabilities or who are at risk for developmental disabilities.

Developmental Neurobiology and Brain Plasticity--Research to understand the genetic and environmental mechanisms that underlie brain development, the molecular and cellular basis of neuronal communication, and the fundamental gene-dependent mechanisms before birth and experience-dependent mechanisms after birth needed for plasticity of neural circuits involved in communication, learning, mood and emotion.

Mood and Emotion--Basic and clinical research to understand the underlying causes of behavioral and emotional disorders in children, adolescents and adults, with a particular emphasis on persons with developmental disabilities.

Family Research--Fundamental clinical research to examine the impact of developmental disabilities on family relations and family unit structure, with an emphasis on studies of siblings and their relationships over time.