EU-AIMS Accelerated Longitudinal Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP)
IRAS ID
126247
Contact name
Declan Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affect about 1 in 100 individuals (Baird et al., 2006) and are characterized by qualitative impairments in social interactions, communication, and repetitive and restricted behaviours and interests (APA, 2000). Currently, diagnosis is still solely based on behavioural classification and there are no effective treatments of the core symptoms that improve the long-term outcome. The discovery of novel treatments is a challenge because ASDs are clinically, etiologically and biologically very heterogeneous. Hence, some treatments may only be effective in certain subgroups or at certain points in development. Recently, neuroimaging, eye-tracking and electrophysiological markers have emerged as potential biomarkers to aid clinical stratification of patients with ASD. However, this approach requires sample sizes manifold larger than those included in existing studies. The current submission is part of a European multi-centre study which will include approximately 420 participants with ASD from 6-30 years and 325 control participants. The same study protocol will be carried out simultaneously at six study sites across Europe. Alongside the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, this includes the University of Cambridge, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Central Institute of Mental Health, Germany, and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. Each participant will be seen at two time-points within a 12-24 months period. Each assessment wave includes 1-2 Institute visits. Participants will be comprehensively characterized in terms of clinical symptomatology, comorbidities, neurocognitive profile, EEG, brain structure and brain function. Blood, urine and saliva samples will be taken for genetic and –omics analyses.
The unique combination of the large sample size and the longitudinal nature of the study will allow us to identify homogeneous subtypes of ASD with different development courses. This will then provide the necessary basis for identifying novel candidate mechanisms and targets for drug development and non-pharmacological interventions.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1156
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion