Thompson Center research studies seeking participants
Simons Simplex Collection
This study is funded by the Simons Foundation to examine genetic factors associated with ASD. The purpose of this research is to understand the causes of autism when there is only one child in the family who has autism. Thirteen research sites in the U.S. and Canada will do assessments of children with autism and their family members. The study includes interviews, surveys, physical exams and a blood draw.
Eligibility requirements: Children between the ages of 4 and 17 diagnosed with an ASD with one unaffected sibling over the age of 4. Participation of both parents is required.
Time required: Approximately 16 hours (10-12 hours of this time is for completing forms which can be done from home)
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Nicole Takahashi, 573-884-1893, takahashin@health.missouri.edu
Research study directors: Judith Miles, MD, PhD; Steve Kanne, PhD
Autism Treatment Network: Cooperative multi-center registry for comprehensive care and treatment of autism
The Autism Treatment Network (ATN) registry is a study that collects medical information on children diagnosed with an ASD. The purpose of the Registry is to collect and analyze medical information to better understand the medical conditions that often occur with an Autism Spectrum Disorders. The ATN is focusing on two conditions that often occur with Autism: sleeping problems and gastrointestinal disorders. The registry is used by both doctors and researchers to improve medical treatment individuals with an ASD.
Eligibility requirements: Children between the age of 2 and 17 diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder
Time required: 10-15 hours
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: No
Contact person: Krista Hughes, HughesKL@health.missouri.edu
Research study directors: Judith Miles, MD; Steve Kanne, PhD
Effect of propranolol on facial processing in ASD
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a medicine called propranolol, which is a commonly prescribed blood pressure drug, affects how individuals with ASD process faces when they look at them. This research is being done because people with ASD examine other faces in an atypical manner. Some researchers feel that this may be related to the stress response. Propranolol is thought to decrease the stress response in the brain. Therefore, we are testing whether propranolol affects how people with ASD look at faces using a special camera. For this task, participants will need to be able to hold their heads very still on a chinrest for about 20 minutes. We will also ask participants to do a few other tasks to examine cognitive abilities, which involve defining words, pushing buttons, and solving word problems.
Participants will be given the medicine during one visit and placebo (sugar pill or fake medicine) during one visit. We will compare the results of each participant when on the drug to the placebo condition. We are also going to compare results of individuals with and without autism. We hope this research will help us better understand ASD and lead to better treatment strategies for these conditions.
Eligibility requirements: All individuals with ASD who are 16 years of age or older are invited to participate.
Time required: 3 visits. 1st visit is 1 hour. 2nd visit is 3 hours. 3rd visit is 3 hours. The 1st and 2nd visits can be combined into a single visit for those traveling longer distances.
Location: Clinical Neuropsychology Lab, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Sanjida Saklayen, 614-282-4702, saklayens@health.missouri.edu
Research study directors: Shawn Christ, PhD and David Beversdorf,MD
3D Facial Pattern Analysis for Autism
The purpose of this study is to conduct 3D facial pattern analysis of autism. The procedure will be similar to standard photography using a special camera that captures 3 dimensional images. The child will sit alone or on the lap of a parent and an investigator will hold a toy or bright object to attempt to get the child to hold his/her head up and look at the camera while the photograph is taken. Results of this research might improve our understanding of autism and might be useful for early detection of autism.
Eligibility requirements: Children between the ages of 8-12 (prepubertal) diagnosed with an ASD
Time required: 5-10 minutes
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Kim Pope, 573-882-8922, kkp5g5@missouri.edu
Research study directors: Ye Duan, PhD; Judith Miles, MD, PhD; Kristina Aldridge, PhD
Assessing pupillary reflex
This purpose of this study is to find out if eye reflexes to light can be used to help diagnose children with autism. Each child will receive an eye screening and then a light reflex test. Pictures will be taken of the pupils under light and dark conditions.
Eligibility requirements: Children between the ages of 6 and 18 that have a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder(ASD).
Time required: 1.5 hours
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Nicole Takahashi, 573-884-1893, takahashin@health.missouri.edu
Research study directors: Gary Yao, PhD; Bo Lei, PhD; Judith Miles, MD, PhD
Inhibitory control in individuals with autism spectrum disorder
The purpose of this study is to learn more about the challenges people with autism experience in their thinking skills. Sometimes, people with autism have difficulty ignoring distracting noises. Participants will be asked to do a variety of things including pushing buttons on a computer, defining words, using blocks to build things, and naming pictures. During testing, frequent breaks are offered, and snacks will be available. The participants with autism will be compared to individuals without autism. This research may lead to the development of better learning strategies for people with autism.
Eligibility requirements: All individuals who are 6 years of age and older are invited to participate.
Participation is open to both individuals with and without autism.
Time required: 3 hours, which may be completed over one or more appointment, scheduled at the family's convenience.
Location: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Melissa Hord, 573-884-8109, Melissa.Hord@mizzou.edu
Research study directors: Shawn Christ, PhD; Judith Miles, MD, PhD
The neural correlates of executive control in individuals with autism spectrum disorder
The purpose of this study is to look at “executive control” in individuals with and without autism and to understand the strengths and weaknesses in their thinking skills. Executive control means being able to pay attention (such as ignoring noises while studying for school) or behave appropriately (such as not hitting other people). Using an MRI machine, we will take pictures of a participant’s brain while he/she completes a video game-like task. (The MRI scanner is very safe and does not involve any injections or radiation.) The pictures will help tell us which parts of the brain are important for good inhibitory control. We will be able to also measure how much participants are using these different brain parts during the video game-like task.
We will compare the results of individuals with and without autism. We hope this research will help us better understand autism and lead to the development of better learning strategies for individuals with autism.
Eligibility requirements: All individuals who are 6 years of age and older are invited to participate. Participation is open to both individuals with and without autism.
Time required: 2.5 hours
Location: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Melissa Hord, 573-884-8109, Melissa.Hord@mizzou.edu
Research study directors: Shawn Christ, PhD; John Kerns, PhD; Kristina Aldridge, PhD; and Judith Miles, MD
Helping parents cope with stress
Parents of children with special needs (such as autism) are at increased risk for stress and emotional problems that can make it more difficult for them to care for their families. The purpose of this study is to learn if a survey will be useful to identify families who are at risk for increased stress. This survey could help us find out which families need more support and what services might be most helpful. Parents will be asked to fill out a written survey about their family and their child. Their health care provider will be asked to complete a survey indicating whether they perceive the family to be at risk.
Eligibility requirements: Parents or caregivers who are either a) coming to the clinic for an assessment to determine if their child has autism or b) coming to the clinic for the first time with a child who has a diagnosis of an autism-spectrum disorder.
Time required: 30-60 minutes
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: Yes
Contact person: Kathleen Deidrick, PhD, deidrickk@missouri.edu
Research study directors: Kathleen Deidrick, PhD; LuJuan Chambers, Arshad Muzaffar, MD
Interactive Autism Network-Missouri partnership (IAN-MO)
The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is a national online autism registry funded by Autism Speaks that is designed to increase the pace of new discoveries about autism. Parents enter information about their child and family by completing online surveys. These questionnaires ask about their child’s history, behaviors, family environment and services received. The Thompson Center is collaborating with IAN to use anonymous data from those who register in Missouri to inform policy makers about ways to improve state services. More information about the IAN registry is available at www.ianproject.org.
Eligibility requirements:
Families must have a child who lives in the USA, is less than 18 year of age, and has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by a professional
Time required: at least 1 hour
Location: Any computer with internet access
Monetary compensation: No
Contact person: Mary Clark, RN; 573-882-5711, clarkmj@health.missouri.edu
Research study directors: Janet Farmer, PhD and Jim Laffey, PhD, University of Missouri; Paul Law, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Using neurofeedback training to improve social participation and attention in children with autism spectrum disorder
Neurofeedback is a way in which we train the brain to help improve its ability to function. By challenging the brain, much as you challenge your body in physical exercise, we may be able to help your child improve the way he or she controls attention and social behaviors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how neurofeedback affects the child’s ability to attend and to participate in social settings. Neurofeedback is safe for children and may help them learn to self-regulate their behavior. A baseline interview also will be conducted with the parents.
Eligibility requirements: Diagnosis of autistic disorder by a professional. Ability to sit, follow simple directions and attend to visual and auditory stimuli. Between 5 and 16 years of age.
Time required: Each child will receive approximately 30 to 40 training sessions lasting about 30 minutes each.
Location: 9 Clark Hall, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: No, but free interventions
Contact person: Molly Tugushi, 573-882-3988 tugushim@health.missouri.edu
Research study director: Guy McCormack, PhD
Social Competence Program—Cognitive-behavioral interventions
The Social Competence Program helps children and youth make and sustain friendships, and understand emotions in themselves and others. This service focuses on building skills such as sharing ideas, problem solving, conversational manners, and social skills. The social competency group meets for one hour sessions two times each week for a 10 week period. There are individual and group activities developed to meet the needs of each child. Each child is assessed before and after the service to identify progress in their program.
Eligibility requirements: families with a child who is:
- Between the ages of 6 and 14;
- Has a diagnosis of an ASD;
- Can access the general education curriculum and attend a general education class for at least one period a day;
- Has difficulty with social skills at home, school or in the community.
Location: Thompson Center, University of Missouri
Monetary compensation: No
Contact person: Melissa Herzog, 573-884-5288, herzogm@missouri.edu
Research study director: Janine Stichter, PhD
