Studies - Autism
Autism Treatment Network Registry (H-23066)
Texas Children's Hospital is currently enrolling children between the ages of 3-17 years old diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and currently receiving ongoing care at Texas Children's Hospital Autism Center or planning to receive care at the center. The Autism Treatment Network has developed a registry that will eventually provide information to researchers and other doctors to help improve the standards of medical care for children with autism. There will be no course of treatment associated with this research registry, but the registry will be important in identifying treatment needs and formulating a variety of research studies in the near future as clinicians within the ATN collaboration generate hypotheses.
Contact: For more information about this project, please contact Aryn Polk at 832-822-3751 or apolk@bcm.edu.
Simons Simplex Collection (H-22720)
We are looking for families interested in helping researchers understand the genetic causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Simons Foundation provides support for this research project to Baylor College of Medicine, as well as 12 other sites around the U.S. and Canada. For additional information about the Simons Foundation, see: www.simonsfoundation.org.
For this study, we are recruiting families who have: one child aged five or older with ASD or a suspected ASD diagnosis, one or more children age four or older without ASD, and both biological parents who are also willing to participate. Cooperating with this study involves the completion of interviews and questionnaires, as well as a medical evaluation and a blood draw for all participating family members. Blood will be donated to the Simons Simplex Collection. The Simons Simplex Collection obtains, stores, and distributes DNA to researchers who are studying the genetics of ASD. Through performing genetic analyses, we hope to discover information that will help us better understand and treat ASD. As compensation for your time and travel, your family will receive a $50 gift certificate upon completion of the entire protocol (including the blood draw). Parking for study-related visits to the Texas Medical Center will also be validated.
Contact: If you are interested in hearing more about this research project, please call 832-824-3391.
REST for Autism Spectrum Disorders (H-21655)
We are recruiting for a study of sleep problems in children with autistic spectrum disorders. We are looking for children ages 4-9 who have a diagnosed autistic spectrum disorder. Your child does not have to have sleep problems in order to participate in this study. Study procedures for all participants involve an overnight visit to the hospital and a questionnaire regarding your child’s sleep habits. Parking and all other research costs will be covered by the study.
Contact: For more information about this project, please contact Aryn Polk at 832-822-3751 or apolk@bcm.edu
Folate Pilot Study
We are currently recruiting for a pilot study to determine if children with autism show behavior changes with folate supplementation. Children of any age with a confirmed diagnosis of autism may be eligible to participate. We are particularly interested in children who have previously tried folate or folic acid therapy and who had a worsened behavioral response. There are two phases to this study. In phase 1, children will receive either folic acid, which is the over-the-counter form of folate, or placebo in a random order. In phase 2, children who had a worsened behavioral response to folic acid in phase 1 will receive Metafolin, which is the active form of folate that the body would normally make from folic acid. Children will provide blood samples at 4 time points during phase 1 and 2 time points during phase 2. Parents will be asked to complete behavior questionnaires about their children at these same intervals. Parking will be validated for all study-related visits.
Contact: For more information about this project and how your family may participate, please contact Dr. Robin Kochel at 832-822-4299 or by email at kochel@bcm.tmc.edu.
Autism
Is your son between 12 and 22 years old and has been diagnosed with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a brain imaging study that investigates the activity of the brain during human social interaction. You and your child will be asked to play a simple computer game while receiving a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan, which uses a magnet and radio waves (no x-rays!). Compensation: $20-$40 (per person), plus a high-resolution MRI image of your brain.
Contact: To volunteer please contact us at www.hnl.bcm.tmc.edu/participate, email us at volunteer@hnl.bcm.tmc.edu, or call us at 713-798-4214.