Autism Treatments – Clinical Research Trials

clinical trials autism research participants

Ongoing UK Clinical Trials for Autism – research studies recruiting participants

The following is a list of research trials currently taking place in the UK and actively recruiting study participants. The studies have been designed to investigate the potential of various medications and interventions to help reduce core autism symptoms, and/or difficulties and symptoms frequently experienced by individuals affected by autism such as anxiety, irritability, impulsive, aggressive and self-harming and other challenging behaviours.

Please note that the studies are not run by Thinking Autism. We can not reply to questions about the studies, the treatments themselves, or your or your child’s eligibility to take part in the trials. If you have any questions about the trials or would like your child/ren or yourself to take part in one of the studies please contact the institutions that are running the trials via the links provided.

Please note: the list is not comprehensive. If your organisation is running a trial and recruiting participants who live in the UK please contact us to have it added to the list. In order to qualify for a listing the aims and objectives of the study need to fall under one or both of the following categories: 1. reducing core symptoms of autism 2. addressing underlying or comorbid biomedical disorders that contribute to symptoms and difficulties experienced by individuals with autism.

The list will be updated on an ongoing basis. Please make sure to come back and refresh the page from time to time, or subscribe to our mailing list to be informed of future additions.

Balovaptan for Autism – a Multicentre Clinical Trial For Adults (ongoing)

Re:Cognition Health are currently recruiting patients aged 18+ for an adult autism clinical trial

The award-winning team at Re:Cognition Health are delighted to be launching new clinical trials for adult autism to find new medications to help individuals manage some of challenging symptoms such as helping with socialisation, stress, anxiety or aggression. To date, there are no approved medications that target these core symptoms and this clinical study aims to change this.

Adults with autism have a different sensory experience; seeing, hearing and feeling the world differently and they may sometimes find this challenging when socialising or communicating. This new trial is investigating whether Balovaptan, an oral vasopressin 1a receptor agonist, can help individuals with autism manage certain social and communication challenges. It will investigate whether the medication can block a hormone receptor in the brain which is responsible for some the adult autism symptoms.

They are looking for adults (aged over 18) with a diagnosis of autism to take part in clinical trials for new treatment.

For more information and to register visit: recognitionhealth.com/autism-treatment/ and recognitionhealth.com/autism-clinical-trials-for-adults/

Bumetanide for Autism treatment trial (ongoing)

A large European multi-centre Phase III trial is currently taking place in France and several other EU countries.

This study is investigating the effectiveness of bumetanide for treating core symptoms of autism. Several UK centres are expected to take part.

More details on bumetanide clinical trial for autism

Media article on bumetanide trial

Watch this space for further updates and additional UK centres taking part.

Arbaclofen for improving social difficulties in autism (launching summer 2019)

Part of the AIMS-2-TRIALS (Autism Innovative Medicine Studies-2-Trials). University of Newcastle, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, King’s College London will taking part in a large treatment trial of arbaclofen. The medicine is thought to improve social difficulties in autism.

The study will be looking to recruit children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 years of age who are verbal and/or able to give consent to trial (additional exclusion criteria will apply). The participants will need to live near or be able to travel to one of the recruitment centres.

Please note that this study is not yet recruiting participants. It is expected that the recruitment will start in late summer 2019. Watch this space for further information.

Information on AIMS-2 and arbaclofen

Investigating possible associations between Central Sensitivity Syndromes (CSS) and Autism (survey, ongoing)

‘Central Sensitivity Syndrome’ is a relatively new umbrella term used to describe a group of related illnesses including Fibromyalgia (FMS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and several other conditions. Informal observations have suggested that autistic people might be more vulnerable to developing these conditions.

“The aim of the CENSSAS study is to see whether there is an association and, if so, what common complaints or overlapping symptoms there might be. To do this, we need to explore the symptoms of people with ASC and with CSS, but also look at the extent to which symptoms of CSS, autistic traits or other related symptoms occur in the broader population. Therefore, we are seeking participation from anyone aged 18+.”

For more information and to take part visit censsas.co.uk

Thinking Autism blog – science news & updates

Century-old drug offers new hope for autism treatment

A small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows dramatic effects of suramin as a treatment for autism. Improvements were seen in all three core features of autism: language, social interactions, and restricted or repetitive behaviours across multiple diagnostics in multiple tests in all who received the active treatments, absent in the placebo arm

Higher rates of autism in children with various congenital disorders

Children with Congenital Heart Disease, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 suffer high rates of autism. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor with strong neuro-inflammation attenuating effects, reduces core autism symptoms in some children with TSC, epilepsy and autism…

Autism should be approached as a chronic health condition, scientists recommend

Numerous medical conditions are significantly more prevalent in children and adults with autism, including allergy and/or immunologic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, psychiatric and gastrointestinal conditions. Early childhood health problems can be used to spot children at high risk of autism…

Diuretic drug improves core autism symptoms

Double-blind randomized multicenter trial finds bumetanide ameliorates core symptoms of autism.A medical drug normally used to relieve fluid retention has been repurposed as a treatment for the core symptoms of autism. Following on from the promising results of their...

ACTH therapy benefits stuttering and autism

Adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy in patients with nighttime subclinical seizure activity improves their stuttering and autism symptoms ACTH therapy improves core symptoms of autism alongside EEG parameters and sublinical seizures. In a retrospective study a total...

Perinatal risk factors and pregnancy complication associated with autism

Babies who are exposed to perinatal complicatios incl. asphyxia, preeclampsia, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid, are at increased risk of developing autism. The risk is especially high for babies exposed to complications both before and during birth.

Latest findings confirm pathological role of the immune system and inflammation in autism

Accumulating evidence suggests an association between immune dysfunction and pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders in a large number of affected individuals. Findings from diverse fields of science and experimental animal studies point to close interconnectedness of the immune and the nervous systems

Autistic regression linked to autoimmunity

Autistic regression is a phenomenon where a previously normally developing child loses developmental milestones and previously acquired language and social skills, and regresses into autism. Symptoms such as fever, vomiting, incessant crying, irritability, changes in sleep patterns and emergence of motor abnormalities are frequently noted around the time of autistic regression…

Combined nutritional & dietary intervention effective at improving autism symptoms

Results of latest 12 month scientific study led by Prof Adams from Arizona State University suggest that a comprehensive nutritional protocol is both safe and effective at improving nutritional status, intellectual ability and autism symptoms in most individuals with autism

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