Richard Fleming PhD

My main areas of research (2001-present) have centered on: (1) the development and testing of evidence-based health behavior-change interventions adapted for individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and (2) online, interactive parent and professional education. The funded research and development my colleagues and I have conducted have included the development and implementation of lifestyle interventions to promote physical activity, exercise, healthful eating, weight loss, weight maintenance, and oral health. Most of these studies have included both adolescents and young adults, and family members and other caregivers as co-participants. 

Relevant grants on which I have been either PI or MPI are a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating community-based exercise and fitness in adolescents with Down syndrome (R21HD062933); a pilot RCT targeting family-based weight loss for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome (R03DK070627); a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study investigating a community physical activity program for youth with moderate ASD (R21HD057806); an online training program in behavioral intervention and support for parents of children with ASD (R42HD055021); a RCT extending previous work and investigating a family-based weight loss and weight maintenance intervention for adolescents and young adults with ID/DD (R01HD072573); a multi-media training program on special care dentistry and oral hygiene for oral health professionals and students (R42DE020979); and an educational grant to support a faculty-mentored summer program for UMASS Boston undergraduate students in the area of maternal and child health (R25HD090723).