Enroll in a CAR Study

We are enrolling any individual with autism spectrum disorder and their biological parents into the nation’s largest autism study, called SPARK. The goal of SPARK is to speed up autism research and find the genetic causes of autism. All participants enroll online at www.sparkforautism.org/CHOP and then provide a saliva sample via kits that are mailed to the home. Families who return the saliva collection kits will receive compensation and access to free webinars and an interactive and informational dashboard.

We are looking for children and teens ages 6-16 to test out a video game designed to improve eye contact in children with autism spectrum disorder. During study visits participants will measure heart rate, brain activity and wear eye tracking glasses while playing the video game. Parents will be asked to complete questionnaires about their child. Participants will be compensated for their time.

We are looking for teens and adults ages 12 and older with autism spectrum disorder to participate in a research study testing the effectiveness of a new virtual reality (VR) application aimed at improving social skills. Participation in this study involves one to three visits to CAR to use the VR headset and complete questionnaires. Participants will be compensated for their time. 

The goal of this research study is to better understand differences in the way children with autism move their bodies and faces compared to children who are developing typically.  Children who are diagnosed with ASD or who are typically developing are invited to participate in this study, which will include a visit to CAR to complete simple social skills tasks, motor behavior and language tasks as well as an IQ test. Participants will be compensated for their time and effort and will receive a brief report of their behavioral and IQ tests results. For more information: CARmotorlab@email.chop.edu | 267-425-1192

We currently enrolling children between the ages of 2 to 4 years old who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis to participate in a study to understand brain development in infants. By conducting brain imaging scans of brain activity in infants, toddlers, and pre-school children we will see how brain processes change across development. We will eventually use this information to better understand brain processes in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

The goal of this study is to understand how brain processes change during child development. Infants between the ages of 6 to 12 months are eligible for a non-invasive brain imaging study specially developed for infants and toddlers to understand how brain processes change during child development. We will eventually use this information to better understand brain processes in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

We are seeking parents, teachers & therapists familiar with ASD to help us prepare for an imaging study for minimally & nonverbal children. In the past, these children have been excluded from brain imaging studies. We would like to change this by using magnetoenchephalography (MEG) technology. We would like to interview parents, therapists, and teachers to help us design future MEG studies for children with ASD.

This research study will observe young children to learn more about the differences in social cognition and brain function that may be present in ASD.  We will use newly developed assessment tools like eye tracking and EEG technology to measure social processing and brain activity. Young children between the ages of 2 years and 5 years of age may enroll. We need children who have been previously diagnosed with an ASD as well as those who seem to be developing typically to take part. 

The goal of this study is to understand how children with little or no speech understand sounds and words. This study is enrolling boys and girls ages 8-12 who have ASD and are minimally verbal or nonverbal OR have a Developmental or Intellectual Disability (DD/ID).  What we learn from this study may help other people who have little or no speech. You will also receive a short report summarizing your child’s language and problem-solving skills.

We are currently enrolling children 8 to 12 years of age with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum (including Asperger Syndrome) and children 8 to 12 years of age who are typically developing in to a study to understand more about how a child’s brain processes sounds, words and pictures. The goal of this research study is to understand how children with and without ASD process information.

The goal of this study is to understand  how brain structure & function change during childhood. Children aged 6-8 with or  without ASD are invited to participate in this study, which will involve two visits to CHOP about every 18 months for 3 years. We will have your child do tests of language, problem-solving, and basic academic skills as well as non-invasive (safe) brain imaging.