Research Volunteers Needed
Our research team would like to let our followers know that we have suspended all in-person recruitment to our research activities due to the current COVID-19 crisis. We are still working away so if you would like get involved in the future you can still get in touch now on autism@tcd.ie to discuss
Autism TCD current research studies leaflet - October 2019 (pdf)
Summary: We are delighted to be joining the AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium consisting of research groups from over 40 institutions across Europe working together. To find out more about AIMS-2-TRIALS, you can visit the website at www.aims-2-trials.eu. As part of AIMS-2-TRIALS, we will be expanding our research on rare genetic variants associated with autism, in the Synaptic Gene Study. For this study we are interested in learning about behaviour, cognition and brain development in people with a rare genetic condition known as NRXN1 deletion.
This study involves interviews and questionnaires, pen-and-paper tasks, a blood draw, eye-tracking and a measures of brain function and structure using EEG and MRI.
Recruitment:
We looking for any child, adolescent or adult over the age of two years with a NRXN1 (2p16.3) deletion and their families to take part in the study.
We are also looking in any child, adolescent or adult over the age of two years without any known genetic condition and their families to take part in the study.
NRXN1 Study Newsletter November 2019 (pdf)
Contact Information
Email: autism@tcd.ie
Phone: 01 8962219
Summary: We’re looking to understand the biology behind autism. The foundation of our bodies lies in our DNA and this is where we are going to look. How are we going to do it? We will measure your DNA, then have a look to see which parts of the DNA are related to autism. Like any genetic study, families are the best way to do this. The first step is to get in touch and we will talk the research process through with you and your family.
Recruitment: We are recruiting families with a two or more affected family members with an autism diagnosis.
Contact Information
Email: autism@tcd.ie
Phone: 01 8962219
Summary: Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic syndrome. Social cognition, or the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others, is impaired in PWS. In this project, we will carefully evaluate social cognition and social reward alterations in PWS using clinical assessment and neurocognitive methods (EEG, eye tracking). We will look at how social cognition and reward processing might contribute to autism symptoms and behaviours of concern in PWS.
Recruitment: We are looking for any person with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of PWS to take part in this study
Contact Information
Email: feighans@tcd.ie
Phone: 01-8962144
Summary: We are hoping to increase our knowledge about the reasons why second generation antipsychotic medications are causing significant weight gain and metabolic side effects in children. To do this we propose to recruit children and adolescents who are commencing treatment with second generation antipsychotic medications. We will do a general physical examination including your height and weight and take blood samples to measure levels of inflammatory markers. We will then meet with you after 3 months, 6 months and one year to see if you are getting any side effects and to repeat our measurements and take more blood samples to see if there are any changes.
Recruitment: Children and adolescents (5-18 years old) who are commencing treatment with second generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications.
Contact information:
Email: whelank3@tcd.ie
Phone: 01 8962144