Autism Treatments – Clinical Research Trials
Autism Treatments – Clinical Research Trials
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.
STAR-AIMS: improving social communication skills in children with autism (LONDON & UK)
STAR-AIMS is a new clinical trial investigating if a medication called arbaclofen can help improve social difficulties in children and young people with autism.
Why is the study important?
➢ To date, no medications have been approved to support social function in autism. We want to try and change this with your help.
➢ STAR-AIMS is part of AIMS-2-Trials, the largest ever research project in autism.
➢ AIMS-2-Trials and STAR-AIMS will help increase our understanding of autism and improve outcomes and quality of life for people with autism.
Information on AIMS-2 and arbaclofen
Can you or your child take part?
You must be 5 to 17 years of age and have good verbal skills
Have a confirmed diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (ASD)
Your parent or caregiver is willing to take part in the study with you
You can visit us at one of our UK research sites for your appointments. We will reimburse your travel expenses and offer you £50 worth of vouchers at the end of the study.
Getting involved
If you think you might be interested in taking part or would like to hear more about the study, please contact your nearest STAR-AIMS team for a chat:
London: King’s College London and SLaM: 0207 848 1520 / 0207 848 5260, [email protected]
Newcastle: Clinical Research Facility, NUTH NHS: 0191 282 0070 (to launch here soon).
Glasgow: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital: 0141 232 7600
Bumetanide for Autism treatment trial (CENTRAL LONDON & UK)
A large European multi-centre Phase III trial is currently taking place in France and several other EU countries, including the UK.
This study is investigating the effectiveness of bumetanide for treating core symptoms of autism. Children and adolescents with a diagnosis of autism or suspected diagnosis, aged 2-17 can participate.
UK centres conducting the trials:
ReCognition Health (several recruitment centres in the UK) – click here for more details and to apply
More details and results of previous bumetanide autism trials
Balovaptan for Autism – a Multicentre Clinical Trial For Adults (LONDON & UK)
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 an existing medicine can be repurposed can help individuals with autism manage those challenges.
The investigators are looking for adults (aged over 18) with a diagnosis of autism to take part in this clinical trial.
Contact Re:Cognition Health to register your interest in taking part in this trial.
For more information on the trial itself visit the official V1ADUCT trial page
The V1ADUCT clinical trial for social function in autism (SOUTH LONDON)
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, provider of the widest range of mental health services in the UK, is looking for adults with autism to take part in a new drug trial.
Who can take part?
- Do you have autism spectrum disorder?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
- Do you have someone you see and speak to regularly, who would be willing and able to be your ‘study partner’?
If so, you may be able to take part in V1ADUCT!
Thousands of people all around the world take part in clinical trials every year. Without them, new treatments cannot be developed. In fact, every medication that you’ve ever taken will have been investigated in clinical trials first.
V1ADUCT is assessing an investigational medication to see if it can help adults with autism better manage the social and communication challenges that are at the heart of autism. To date, no medications have been approved to treat autism’s core symptoms. By taking part in the study you will help us increase understanding of adult autism as well as have the opportunity to take part in a 2-year extension of the trial.
To find out more and to register your interest contact the V1ADUCT team by email [email protected] or call them on 0207 848 1520.
The V1ADUCT clinical trial for social function in autism (EDINBURGH)
The Patrick Wild Centre at the University of Edinburgh / NHS Lothian, is offering adults with autism the opportunity to take part in a trial of a new medicine.
The V1ADUCT study is assessing a new medication to see if it can help adults with autism better manage social and communication challenges.
To take part you need to:
- Do you have autism spectrum disorder?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
- Do you have someone you see and speak to regularly, who would be willing and able to be your ‘study partner’?
To find out more contact the V1ADUCT team at the Patrick Wild Centre by email on [email protected] or call them on 0131 537 6265.
There are also sites in Glasgow and London so if you can’t make it to Edinburgh you may still be able to take part.
Bumetanide for Autism treatment trial (Colchester, Essex)
A large European multi-centre Phase III trial is currently taking place in France and several other EU countries, including the UK.
This study is investigating the effectiveness of bumetanide for treating core symptoms of autism.
Can your child take part?
Children with a confirmed diagnosis of autism who are aged 2-7 years and living in Colchester can take part.
(If your child does not meet those criteria see below for other UK centres participating in bumetanide trial and recruiting older-age children).
Getting involved
If you think you might be interested in taking part contat [email protected]
More details and results of previous bumetanide autism trials
Bumetanide for Autism treatment trial (CENTRAL LONDON & UK)
A large European multi-centre Phase III trial is currently taking place in France and several other EU countries, including the UK.
This study is investigating the effectiveness of bumetanide for treating core symptoms of autism. Children and adolescents with a diagnosis of autism or suspected diagnosis, aged 2-17 can participate.
UK centres conducting the trials:
ReCognition Health (several recruitment centres in the UK) – click here for more details and to apply
More details and results of previous bumetanide autism trials
Balovaptan for Autism – a Multicentre Clinical Trial For Adults (LONDON & UK)
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 an existing medicine can be repurposed can help individuals with autism manage those challenges.
The investigators are looking for adults (aged over 18) with a diagnosis of autism to take part in this clinical trial.
Contact Re:Cognition Health to register your interest in taking part in this trial.
For more information on the trial itself visit the official V1ADUCT trial page
The V1ADUCT clinical trial for social function in autism (SOUTH LONDON)
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, provider of the widest range of mental health services in the UK, is looking for adults with autism to take part in a new drug trial.
Who can take part?
- Do you have autism spectrum disorder?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
- Do you have someone you see and speak to regularly, who would be willing and able to be your ‘study partner’?
If so, you may be able to take part in V1ADUCT!
Thousands of people all around the world take part in clinical trials every year. Without them, new treatments cannot be developed. In fact, every medication that you’ve ever taken will have been investigated in clinical trials first.
V1ADUCT is assessing an investigational medication to see if it can help adults with autism better manage the social and communication challenges that are at the heart of autism. To date, no medications have been approved to treat autism’s core symptoms. By taking part in the study you will help us increase understanding of adult autism as well as have the opportunity to take part in a 2-year extension of the trial.
To find out more and to register your interest contact the V1ADUCT team by email [email protected] or call them on 0207 848 1520.
The V1ADUCT clinical trial for social function in autism (EDINBURGH)
The Patrick Wild Centre at the University of Edinburgh / NHS Lothian, is offering adults with autism the opportunity to take part in a trial of a new medicine.
The V1ADUCT study is assessing a new medication to see if it can help adults with autism better manage social and communication challenges.
To take part you need to:
- Do you have autism spectrum disorder?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
- Do you have someone you see and speak to regularly, who would be willing and able to be your ‘study partner’?
To find out more contact the V1ADUCT team at the Patrick Wild Centre by email on [email protected] or call them on 0131 537 6265.
There are also sites in Glasgow and London so if you can’t make it to Edinburgh you may still be able to take part.
Thinking Autism blog – science news & updates
Synchrony 2019 – Translational Research in Autism symposia
The first Brain Foundation annual symposia, Pleasanton, California 8-10 of Nov 2019, aimed to connect researchers with clinicians, donors & stake holders to help translate research efforts into evidence-based treatments for autism and its co-morbidities. It highlighted the need for multidisciplinary collaboration, detailed diagnostics and personalised treatment…
Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS – a novel treatment for autism?
One of the treatment modalities that has shown the greatest promise for reducing symptoms of autism in recent years is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The most recent study confirmed and expanded on the findings of previous investigations, which strongly indicate that tDCS could have positive effects on cognition, behaviour and physical health, and improve quality of life and autonomy for a large percentage of individuals with autism.
Cannabis for Treating Core and Comorbid Autism Symptoms – Where are we at?
Several studies published in recent months investigated the effects of cannabis-based products for treating autism. Although the studies were open-label and relatively small in scale, the overall results were overwhelmingly positive, with statistically significant improvements in social communication, language, restrictive/repetitive and challenging behaviours.
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.