UM-NSU CARD Research Opportunities
UM Joint Attention Study
Researchers are seeking children with ASD who are 2 and 3 years of age to participate in a study examining the effectiveness of an intervention program to improve joint attention skills in young children with autism.
The study requires 3 to 7 visits to the University of Miami. Visits will last approximately 1½ to 3 hours. During visits, children will receive evaluations of their developmental, communication, and social skills. Your child will also participate in intervention sessions if he/she is found eligible.
For more information about this project, please contact: Jennifer S. Durocher, Ph.D. at 305-284-6557 or jstella@miami.edu.
UM SIB SMILE (Sibling Studies Measuring Infant Learning and Emotion)
Would you like to help researchers at the University of Miami understand the early signs of autism and related disabilities?
University of Miami researchers are studying babies who are the younger brothers or sisters of children with an autism spectrum disorder. Babies are seen with their parents at the Flipse Building in the University of Miami, Department of Psychology. Children may be seen several times a year. Each visit typically lasts less than an hour. This study is currently recruiting babies between the ages of 2 and 12 months.
Please call our research coordinator, Dr. Kara Kelley, at 305-284-1122 to learn more about how you and your infant can participate or visit our website at http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/dmessinger/fp/SibStudy.html.
Univ. of Miami IRB #: 03-835
Autism Surveillance Study
~Monitoring the Prevalence of Autism
Are the numbers of children being diagnosed with autism increasing? We think so but we need your help to answer this question. The University of Miami Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (UM-ADDM) Network is conducting a study to count every child in Miami-Dade County who has been diagnosed with autism or a related disability.
Why is it important for us to count your child?
It is critical that the count of children diagnosed and living in Miami-Dade County represent a true reflection of the prevalence of autism and other related disabilities in our community. Sending an accurate count to the federal, state, and local government could mean more comprehensive health care coverage, improved disability services, and new innovative programs for your children.
Please help us! The success of this project study will depend on your willingness to participate.
If you live in Miami-Dade County and have a child or children between the ages of 4 and 8 years of age with autism or a related disability, please call Vanessa Gonzalez at (305) 284-8495 to find out more about this project.
~Monitoreando la prevalencia del autismo
Está creciendo el número de niños diagnosticados con autismo? Nosotros pensamos que si, pero necesitamos su ayuda para responder esta interrogante. El Centro de monitoreo de autismo y enfermedades del desarrollo de la Universidad de Miami (UM-ADDM) está actualmente conduciendo un estudio para contabilizar cada niño del Condado de Miami-Dade que haya sido diagnosticado con autismo o discapacidades relacionadas.
¿Por qué es importante para nosotros incluir en esta cuenta a su hijo?
Es crítico el número de niños diagnosticados con autismo que viven en el Condado de Miami-Dade, lo que representa una fiel estadística de la prevalencia del autismo y discapacidades relacionadas en nuestra comunidad. El enviar un número exacto al gobierno federal, estatal y local, podría contribuir en una mejor cobertura del plan de cuidados de salud, incrementar los servicios a los discapacitados, y la creación de nuevos programas para sus hijos.
Por favor ayudenos! El éxito de nuestro estudio depende de su participación.
Si usted vive en el Condado de Miami-Dade y tiene hijos con autismo con edades comprendidas entre 4 y 8 años, por favor comuníquese con Vanessa Gonzalez al (305) 284-8495 para más información sobre este proyecto.
Univ. of Miami IRB #: 02-394
Asperger/HFA Study
Researchers are seeking to learn more about the social and emotional development of children with High-functioning Autism & Asperger Syndrome. A major goal of this project is to understand relations between brain activity and social and emotional development.
We are currently recruiting children between the ages of 8-15 years who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. Participation will take place at the University of Miami and children will be awarded up to $80 for their time.
Please contact Nicole Kojkowski at 305-284-9903 to learn more about this project.
Univ. of Miami IRB #: 99-511
Adults with HFA or AS
Researchers are seeking adults with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, and one of their parents, to participate in a study examining families’ emotional reactions to ASD.
Participation will involve a one hour visit that will include a five-minute interview and completion of some questionnaires about your family environment and your beliefs about the cause(s) and symptoms associated with autism.
You and your relative will each receive $20 at the conclusion of your visit as an expression of our appreciation for your participation.
For more information about participating, please contact Stephanie Wasserman at (305) 284-2307.
UM IRB #: 19990551
Community Research Opportunities
Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Autism: An Autism Genetics Study
Help researchers understand the possible genetic causes of ASD’s.
The purpose of the study is to learn more about the genetic factors that may cause a child to develop an autism spectrum disorder.
What does participation involve?
Researchers from the University of Miami will contact families by phone to complete interviews about the family’s medical and developmental history and will also come to the family’s home to obtain blood samples from family members.
Who can participate?
Families who have at least one child, age 21 or younger, who is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (autism, Asperger’s disorder, or PDD-NOS)
To learn more about this project, please contact Laura Nations at 877-686-6444 or MIHGAutism@med.miami.edu.
University of Miami IRB#: 20070193
Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders
The ability to understand and treat childhood disorders depends, in large part, on the generous donation of tissue from patients with these diseases.
The material collected in the Brain and Tissue Bank is sent to qualified doctors working in fields such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, other chromosomal abnormalities, and brain development. This material is used to help researchers understand the causes, mechanisms & potential treatments for different disorders.
To find out more information about how you can donate, please call Dr. Lillian Rodriguez, project coordinator, at 800-59-BRAIN.
University of Miami IRB#: 1994-0032A
FIU-UM Attention Study
Researchers are seeking children with autism up to 5 years of age to participate in a study of perception and attentional shifting to social and nonsocial events.
Help us discover distinctive attentional patterns in children with autism that may help us identify earlier means of diagnosis.
The study requires two visits of 1 – 1½ hours. At FIU, children will watch interesting videos while sitting on their caregiver’s lap. At UM, children will interact with the researcher in a number of different activities.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the FIU Infant Lab at 305-348-2842 or lnewell@fiu.edu, or visit our website at http://infantlab.fiu.edu/.
FIU IRB#: 051900-04
