SPARK
SPARK is a free online study with a simple mission: to speed up research and advance the understanding of autism. By building a community of tens of thousands of individuals with autism and their biological family members who provide behavioral and genetic data, SPARK will be the largest autism research study to date.
Participation in SPARK can be done entirely at home — register online here.
- Register online in 20–30 minutes
- Complete a few questionnaires
- Provide a saliva DNA sample using collection kits sent directly to your home
- Receive a gift card up to $50 for the individual with autism upon completion of registration process
Find out more about what’s involved on our SPARK page.
Questions? Contact Samantha Hunter at 573-882-6479 or huntersg@health.missouri.edu.
Early Years Study
The goal of this research study is to learn about how behaviors observed in newborns relate to meeting developmental milestones during the first years of life.
- Eligibility: Expectant parents age 18+
- Time required: Participants will submit newborn cry recordings and complete online surveys about baby’s development through age 3
- Location: Online surveys, some families will be invited to the Thompson Center
- Monetary Compensation: up to $265
- Interest form: https://redcap.link/mutcearly
- Contact: Katelyn Weber, 573-882-3806, mutcearly@umsystem.edu
- Research study director: Stephen Sheinkopf, PhD
RI-CART Adolescent-Young Adult Study (RAYS)
Brown University researchers are conducting a study examining the challenges and problems that adolescent and young adults experience over the course of adolescence and young adulthood.
- Eligibility: age 12-24 with ASD and parent/guardian
- Time required: 4 study visits one year apart for 3 years
- Location: Online surveys and interviews
- Monetary Compensation: up to $395 for youth/young adult and up to $225 for parent/guardian
- Contact: RAYS research team, 401-444-1913, RAYS@brown.edu
- Research study directors: Anthony Spirito, PhD, Stephen Sheinkopf, PhD
AutismEYES
The purpose of this study is to validate the ability of a remote eye gaze tracker to differentiate children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to those with developmental delays. We will also be looking at how well eye gaze correlates with autism symptom severity and language ability.
- Eligibility: Age 2-17 years presenting for an evaluation of ASD.
- Time required: 1-3 visits over the course of 4 months
- Location: Thompson Center
- Compensation: Yes
- Contact: Amanda Moffitt Gunn, 573-884-4456, moffittaj@health.missouri.edu
- Research study director: Kerri Nowell, PhD
MapLight
Participate in a clinical trial exploring the potential effects on social communication and other behaviors.
- Eligibility: Adolescents and adults ages 12-45 with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis may be eligible. A care/study partner, such as a parent or spouse, will also be required.
- Time required: Up to 10 visits and 1 phone call over approximately 25 weeks
- Location: Thompson Center
- Monetary compensation: $50 per completed visit
- Contact: Samantha Hunter, 573-882-6479 or huntersg@health.missouri.edu
- Research study directors: Benjamin Black, MD, David Beversdorf, MD
Biomarker Study
In this study, we want to:
-Gather additional information on subpopulations of autism spectrum disorder as identified by the Sponsor.
-Learn more about autism spectrum disorder by identifying subgroups of patients with autism based on biomarkers. Biomarkers are also known as “biological signs” that can be linked to a condition and how it progresses.
- Eligibility: Adolescents and adults ages 12-65 with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis may be eligible. A care/study partner, such as a parent or spouse, will also be required.
- Time required: One visit lasting approximately three hours
- Location: Thompson Center
- Monetary compensation: $100 per completed visit, meal voucher, and travel compensation
- Contact: Joshua Bailey, 573-882-8933 or jbzzm@missouri.edu
- Research study directors: David Beversdorf, MD, Benjamin Black, MD
TAPESTRY Clinical Trial (AXL-2004-002)
The purpose of this clinical trial is to explore an investigational drug used to treat irritability symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
- Eligibility: Individuals 5-17 years old with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis may be eligible.
- Time required: Approximately 16 weeks
- Location: Thompson Center
- Monetary compensation: $75 per completed clinic visit
- Contact: Samantha Hunter, huntersg@health.missouri.edu, 573-882-6479
- Trial website: https://www.theautismstudy.com/
- Research study directors: David Beversdorf, MD, Benjamin Black, MD
