Previous clinical trials of arbaclofen for the treatment of autism and fragile X syndrome have suffered from large placebo effects and non-optimal outcome measures. Here, Emily Jones and her colleagues propose to incorporate EEG measures into two ongoing arbaclofen clinical trials in order to search for sensitive and predictive biomarkers of treatment efficacy that correlate with behavioral outcomes.

Denis Sukhodolsky and Kevin Pelphrey will perform a randomized clinical trial of oxytocin to determine if it can enhance responses to Pivotal Response Training in young children with autism. Functional magnetic resonance brain imaging and eye tracking measures will be studied in conjunction with key behavioral outcomes. This study will aid in the development of more precise treatments for children with ASD that are guided by objective neurobiological markers.

Individuals who have very high cognitive and intellectual ability coupled with a diagnosis of autism are known as twice exceptional (2e). In partnership with the SFARI-funded SPARK initiative, Jacob Michaelson will recruit a cohort of 2e individuals with autism and collect genetic and neuroimaging data on these individuals in order to better understand the neurobiology of this underserved population.

Caroline Robertson’s laboratory aims to develop a neurophysiological marker of autism that reflects reductions in GABAergic action in the autistic brain. Such a marker will help shed light on the neurobiology of autism and aid in the development of pharmacological interventions.