Clinical Research Directory

CFT Guided Self-help Intervention: Parents of Autistic Children

This research will aim to test how practical, achievable and effective a brief, guided, self-help compassion focused intervention is for parents of autistic children aged 6-17 years old. The demands of parenting can be rewarding but also challenging, and it is known that parents of autistic children experience additional pressures. As a result of this, parents of autistic children may be more likely to experience increased stress, anxiety, low mood and lower quality of life, compared to those parenting children who are not autistic. There has been only a small amount of research so far regarding whether interventions that focus on building compassion, would be beneficial to parents of autistic children. The purpose of this study is to test whether a short, self-guided compassion-focused intervention is practical, achievable and effective for parents of autistic children. The intervention is based on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and involves reading workbook material and listening to audio tracks. There will also be some questionnaires to complete and 30-minute weekly support calls with the lead researcher. This intervention was adapted previously, from an intervention for parents in general, to be more suitable and focused on the needs of parents of autistic children. This study will be the first time the adapted intervention has been used by parents. The intervention will be tested by 6-8 parents and will be about 13 weeks long. We will collect some demographic data at the start of the study, and there will be the opportunity to complete an evaluation questionnaire.

Investigating Phenotypic, Epigenetic, and NeuroGenetic Traits in Rare and Ultra-rare Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Project PENGUIN)

Rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Syt-1 or Baker Gordon Syndrome (BAGOS) arise from mutations in genes essential for brain development and function, often disrupting neurotransmission and neuronal connectivity. These conditions present with a wide range of symptoms including developmental delays, seizures, motor and behavioral challenges, and vary widely in severity. These disorders are complex, and they remain poorly understood and lack effective treatments. Natural history and clinical genetic studies are crucial for mapping how these disorders progress, improving diagnostic accuracy, and guiding therapy development. A major focus is identifying reliable biomarkers (genetic, imaging, and physiological) to track disease severity and support clinical trials. This study will securely collect and analyze data to better understand disease impact, develop patient-derived model systems, and build resources to support future treatments.

Developing a Novel Therapy for Aversive Sensory Experiences in Autism

The goal of this study is to assess whether a new psychological treatment can lead to changes in sensory experiences in autistic young people. Participants will complete a group intervention designed to help manage sensory difficulties and associated anxiety. Participants will also complete tasks before and after the intervention to assess whether the treatment can lead to changes in brain and behavioural responses to sensory experiences. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does the intervention improve sensory difficulties and associated anxiety in autistic young people? 2. Does the intervention change brain and biological responses to sensory experiences in autistic young people? Researchers will also collect feedback from participants to help improve the design and delivery of the treatment in future studies.

Abdominal Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if abdominal transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (abdominal TEAS) works to treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. It will also learn about the safety of abdominal TEAS. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does abdominal TEAS a safe and effective treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder and gastrointestinal symptoms? Researchers will compare abdominal TEAS to a placebo (a sham abdominal TEAS without stimulation) to see if abdominal TEAS works to treat ASD. Participants will: Take abdominal TEAS or sham abdominal TEAS 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Visit the clinic once every 4 weeks for checkups and tests Keep a diary of their symptoms.