Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders-Network (POND-Network) (CURRENTLY RECRUITING)

Characterizing Autism

Summary

To understand how genes affect the brain, body, and behaviour and translate this understanding into new ways to help individuals with autism and associated neurodevelopmental disorders.

Researcher(s)

Evdokia Anagnostou, MD, Jessica Brian, PhD

Participate in this study

The study has many options and involves genetics testing, imaging, detailed behavioural assessments & questionnaires, measuring anxiety and possibly participating in a medication trial.

Who can participate

Up to 21 years old with ASD, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Intellectual Disability (ID, DD), Rett Syndrome, or Typically Developing individuals.

What's Involved

The study has many options and involves genetics testing, imaging, detailed behavioural assessments & questionnaires, measuring anxiety and possibly participating in a medication trial. You choose which parts of this study you are interested in. We will pay for your parking during visits to our centre, and you can receive volunteer hours for your time if you are in high school!

POND and CP-NET study participants that undergo genetic testing will contribute deidentified genetic and clinical data to the Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI) project (titled: “Precision Health Network for Neurodevelopment, Mental Health, and Brain Injury”; Researcher: Evdokia Anagnostou, MD) and to the Pan Canadian Genome Library (PCGL). Genetic sequencing is funded by Genome Canada.

Interested in participating

For more information about these studies and to see if you are eligible, please contact Julia Carbone at 416-425-6220 x 3164 or jcarbone@hollandbloorview.ca

Deadline to participate

March 31, 2028

Funding Agency

Ontario Brain Institute