Autism Paid Clinical Trials in Texas

The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether tDCS to the cerebellum (specifically, the right crus I/II area of the cerebellum) of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is safe and to examine its effects on some of the symptoms of ASD, such as repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity. Read Less

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of Pathways parent-mediated early autism intervention (Pathways) and a parent education intervention (PEI) delivered to culturally and linguistically diverse families with children 12-42 months of age suspected of or diagnosed with autism. Question 1: Is Pathways more effective than a PEI at (a) fostering the development of social orienting, joint attention, and social communication and language in children with a research diagnosis of autism and (b) relieving their parents' stress? Question 2: Is the magnitude of the relationship between early and later developing attention greater in children whose parents receive Pathways compared to children whose parents receive PEI? Question 3: Is the magnitude of the relationship between joint attention and social communication and language greater in children whose parents receive Pathways compared to children whose parents receive PEI? Participants will be randomized into 24 weeks of Pathways or PEI. Participants will receive a battery of assessments to evaluate the child's cognitive, social attention, social communication, language, and adaptive functioning, and parental stress at four different time points spaced every 12 weeks from baseline to three-month follow-up. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to characterize the developmental phenotype of ASD and ID and to identify biomarkers using advanced MRI methodology and electrophysiological biomarkers of synaptic function and connectivity predictive of ASD and ID presence and severity in patients with TSC. In addition, this study will be establishing infrastructure for the collection and storage of human bio-specimens, including genetic material, from TSC patients and their family members with ASD. Read Less

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on some of the challenges faced by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Read Less

This study involves sample collection to identify biomarkers relating to Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) in the saliva of children who are between the ages of 18 months to 6 years and 11 months. Participants will at each timepoint have a non-invasive saliva swab collected and complete a brief demographic and medical history questionnaire as well. Children in the pediatric/provider setting who will receive a referral for an ASD diagnosis because they were determined to have a suspicion of developing ASD will be enrolled in the study. Children will also be enrolled in the specialist evaluation setting where they will receive a DSM-5 diagnosis. A subset of both enrollment cohorts will also be followed up with at a third time point in which their diagnosis will be confirmed, and information about any ongoing treatment will be gathered. Read Less

This protocol is a blinded randomized controlled study of the effects of BB-12 with LGG at different doses in 70 healthy children with autism spectrum disorders at lower and higher doses over an 56-day period and a 28- day observation period. The study is being conducted in order to assess safety and tolerability of the probiotic (BB-12 with LGG) at 2 different doses of BB-12 with LGG. Identifying effects on behaviors in healthy children with ASD using SRS-2 and ABC, GI symptoms using GI symptom severity index, and relevant biomarkers of inflammation, microbiota, and metabolites. Primary testing and procedures will be conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Memorial Hermann. Biomarker identification includes Integrative analysis of plasma metabolome and stool microbiota will be conducted with the collaboration of Dr. Ruth Ann Luna and Dr. Jim Versalovic at Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology of Baylor College of Medicine. Read Less

The ASD Screening and Parent ENgagement (ASPEN) program is a culturally adapted, parent-mediated intervention program. The ASPEN program is tailored to address social communication and behavioral difficulties that young children with developmental delays may experience in early childhood. The ASPEN Program includes 12 sessions where parents are provided with psychoeducation about self-care, child development, and evidence-based strategies. Coaching is also provided to train parents on using evidence-based strategies within the home setting. The ASPEN program is delivered by a student clinician and a peer leader. We hypothesize that coaching strategies delivered by the clinician will lead to primary family caregivers learning evidence-based strategies and this will result in improved child outcomes. We hypothesize that education and family support delivered by peer leaders will help primary family caregivers learn social support strategies and this will lead to improved parent outcomes. Read Less