Research projects currently being undertaken by other organisations and individuals

Autism Research

A list of some important collections of research into autism spectrum disorders. More

Access to social care for adults with autistic spectrum conditions

The Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex is carrying out research on access to social care for adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions in England. This research has been commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence and sponsored by the Department of Health. It will inform and support the Department of Health strategy for Adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

The view of some third sector representatives and people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions is that this group of people often ‘fall through the gaps’ between services, and do not receive assessments or the support they need. However, there is little published evidence as to how far this is the case. The University of Sussex research project will be carried out in order to understand how policy and practice affect access to support. It will identify examples of good practice as well as make recommendations for practice.

More information and links to questionnaires

MENDS: The use of MElatonin in children with Neuro-developmental Disorders and impaired Sleep

Has your child had problems getting to sleep or staying asleep at night for the past 5 months or more?
Does your child have moderate to severe learning difficulties?(in addition to an autistic spectrum disorder)

If your answer to both of the questions above is yes, and if your child has NOT been prescribed the drug melatonin in the past 5 months and is aged between 5 and 15 years old they may be eligible for the MENDS research study.

The MENDS study is aiming to find out whether the drug melatonin improves children’s sleep.

If you and your child were eligible and agreed to take part you would need to visit your nearest research centre three times over a 16 week period. Another six study visits would be carried out at your home. The study does not involve any blood samples.

For more information and to find your nearest research centre please contact: Dr Paul Gringras (Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London) Paul.gringras@gstt.nhs.uk or Dr Richard Appleton (Paediatric Neurology, Alderhey, Liverpool) Richard.Appleton@alderhey.nhs.uk

National Centre for High Functioning Autism

The National Centre for High Functioning Autism has received a grant from the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity©, to enable it to run a three year research project. For the first time it will be able to formally look at the difficulties and stresses that occur when a child moves to secondary school. Through examining closely the difficulties that the child experiences and looking at school provision for special educational needs and other environmental factors such as class size, it is aiming to identify specific ‘risk factors’. It is also hoping to identify areas of ‘best practice’ to help identify factors that support children to achieve. More information

Request from Professor Richard Grinker

I am seeking parents or guardians to interview by telephone in connection with a book I am writing on autism and treatment decisions. This is a subject of both intellectual and personal interest to me, as I am both a medical anthropologist and the father of a teenage girl with autism.

More information

Our Research

Last Updated : 29/01/2010 Back to Top

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