Toddlers (1-2 years)

Eligibility

Individuals of all ages with a professional diagnosis of autism and their family members may participate.

Purpose

SPARK: Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research and Knowledge is a landmark national autism research study designed to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to help improve lives. SPARK will collect unique information from thousands of individuals affected by autism to give researchers the information they need to improve treatment and achieve scientific advances as rapidity as possible. More participants in SPARK means more good data for research.

Involvement

Participation in SPARK can be done entirely at home – registration can be completed online and the DNA sample can be provided using a saliva collection kit mailed to the home. There is no cost to participate.

Benefits

Upon completion of the registration process, the individual with autism will receive a $50 gift card.

Contact

Raquel Amador: RaquelAmador@mednet.ucla.edu

For more information visit https://sparkforautism.org/?code=ucla

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Learn more about SPARK for Autism!

¿Qué es SPARK?

SPARK es el mayor estudio sobre el autismo que se ha realizado hasta la fecha y potenciará la investigación sobre el autismo en los próximos años. Creemos que para encontrar respuestas para usted, necesitamos entender lo que le hace único. Y lo que le conecta con los demás. Lo hacemos mediante el estudio de la información genética, conductual y médica.

¿Quién puede unirse?

¿Es padre o madre de un(a) hijo(a) con TEA? ¡Únase a nosotros! ¿Es una persona con un diagnóstico de TEA? Necesitamos de usted. No hay ningún costo para usted y mantenemos sus datos privados.

¿Cómo puede participar?

  • Cree una cuenta en línea.
  • Invite a miembros de la familia.
  • Entregue una muestra de saliva para el análisis de ADN.
  • [Descubra y participe en nuevas oportunidades de investigación sobre el autismo].

Contacto:
Raquel Amador: RaquelAmador@mednet.ucla.edu

Eligibility

If you have a child between the ages of 12-36 months, and with a clinical diagnosis of TSC, you may be eligible to participate in this study.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of behavioral intervention on social-communication skills in infants and toddlers with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and to identify behavioral strategies required to maximize treatment outcomes in infants with TSC.

Involvement

Participation requires attending 1-hour behavioral intervention classes at UCLA for 12 weeks. Because this behavioral intervention is parent-mediated, a parent must be available to attend the sessions. Participants are also given four behavioral assessments before entry into behavioral intervention, after exiting intervention, and at 4-month and 1-year follow up visit. Behavioral assessments generally take up to 3 hours to complete and can be completed over one or two days.

Benefits

Participants will be integrated into an existing early intervention study targeting social communication function in infants.

Contact

Carly Hyde
(310) 825-8738
chyde@mednet.ucla.edu

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Eligibility

  • Have child between the ages of 2-8 years
  • Individuals have medical diagnosis of ASD or educational classification
  • Individual does not receive services for ASD

Purpose

This is a parent-based intervention to help families gain earlier access to services for ASD for their child.

Involvement

Parents/caregivers must be available to participate in a year long study. Study involvement is either 25 hours or 12.5 hours for the entire year, depending on what randomized cohort the individual is desginated. The study sessions will be completed at the individual’s location of choice (example: home or UCLA)

Benefits

  • Participants will receive a $20 gift card at three distinct time points, upon completion of required surveys.
  • Participants will learn how to navigate the service system for ASD.

Contact

Consuelo Garcia
310-825-4775
cogarcia@mednet.ucla.edu

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Eligibility
You and your child may be eligible if:

  • Your child has a clinical TSC diagnosis
  • Your child is between the ages of 12-36 months
  • English is the primary language spoken at home
  • Parent is available twice weekly for remote video conference calls

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine an evidence-based caregiver training program based on the behavioral intervention called JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation), to improve access for the TSC community.

Involvement

This study involves two meetings with study staff and potentially twice weekly remove meetings via remote video conference calls. The total study is 6 months.

Benefits

Participants will receive:

  • Free assessments of communication, cognitive, and play
  • Free evidence-based intervention
  • $150 for study completion

Contact

Maria Pizzano at mpizzano@mednet.ucla.edu
310-206-1268

(PI: Connie Kasari)

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Eligibility
You and your child may be eligible if:

  • Your child is 18 months to 5 years of age
  • Your child is minimally verbal - has little or no spoken language
  • Your child has a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Purpose

SPROUT aims to promote language and social communication skills for children with ASD.

Involvement

  • Comprehensive play-based and behavioral assessments
  • Parent questionnaires
  • 10-20 weeks of intervention

Benefits

Participants will receive:
  • JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement, and Regulation), an evidence-based intervention

Contact

James Yang: wsyang@mednet.ucla.edu
310-983-1057

(PI: Connie Kasari)

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Purpose: The purpose of the study is to test how well the English vs. Spanish ADOS-2 captures autism symptoms in bilingual individuals with or at-risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Involvement: Two visits (about 2-3 hours each), three weeks apart. The clinicians would administer the ADOS-2 in both Spanish and English, the Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA), cognitive testing and parent questionnaires.

Who: People who already have a diagnosis of autism or think they may have autism.

Ages: All ages!

Benefits: Families will receive a report and up to $100.00 for Amazon.

Contact: mtafolla@mednet.ucla.edu, (805)863-8678.

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Propósito: El propósito del estudio es evaluar si el ADOS-2 en Inglés o en Español captura mejor los síntomas del autismo en personas bilingües.

Requisitos: Dos visitas (alrededor de 2-3 horas cada una), con tres semanas entre medio. Los terapeutas administrarán la Escala de Observación para el Diagnóstico del Autismo-2 en Español e Inglés, la Breve Observación de los Síntomas de Autismo (BOSA), pruebas cognitivas y cuestionarios para padres.

Quien: Personas que tienen un diagnostico de autismo o piensan que tienen autismo

Edades: Todas las edades!

Beneficios: Familias recibirán un reporte con el diagnóstico e información adicional de la evaluación y una tarjeta de hasta $100.00 para Amazon.

Contacto: mtafolla@mednet.ucla.edu, (805)863-8678.

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PI: Dr. Rujuta Wilson

Eligibility:
Child must be: 1-5 years old

AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Diagnosed with a Chromatin Modifying Disorder (also known as Chromatinopathies) without an autism diagnosis
  • Diagnosed with a Chromatin Modifying Disorder (also known as Chromatinopathies) with an autism diagnosis
  • Diagnosed with autism without a known genetic condition

Purpose: PThe CHAMPION Study is being led by Dr. Rujuta B. Wilson, MD, a neurodevelopmental pediatric neurologist and researcher at UCLA who studies neurodevelopmental conditions.

Involvement: This study is being conducted both in-person at UCLA and virtually. The study team will conduct behavioral, cognitive, and autism symptom assessments of your child. Your child will also be asked to wear small sensors (movement trackers) on his/or writst and ankles during the day at home. Parents will also complete a parent-interview to provide future insight into the child’s medical history, behavior, and development.

Benefits:

  • Your child will receive up to $100 for participation in the study.
  • You will also receive verbal and written feedback about your child’s development.

Contact:
RQLy@mednet.ucla.edu
310-206-1045