Online Study of People Who Have Genetic Changes and Features of Autism: Simons Searchlight
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: 16P11.2 Deletion Syndrome, 16p11.2 Duplications, 1Q21.1 Deletion, 1Q21.1 Microduplication Syndrome (Disorder). Basic parameters: No limits · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
Simons Searchlight is an observational, online, international research program for families with rare genetic variants that cause neurodevelopmental disorders and may be associated with autism. Simons Searchlight collects medical, behavioral, learning, and developmental information from people who have these rare genetic changes. The goal of this study is to improve the clinical care and treatment for these people. Simons Searchlight partners with families to collect data and distribute it to qualified researchers.
Detailed description
Simons Searchlight has expanded over the last several years to include additional gene changes and participation through remote formats, either online or by phone. This allows English and Spanish-speaking families from across the world to participate at times that are convenient to their schedule. Participants can donate blood, saliva, or both. These samples are then linked to medical, behavioral, learning, and developmental data in order to understand the effects of specific gene changes.
Information provided by participants will be stripped of any personal identifying information and made available to qualified scientists around the world.
The Simons Foundation, a New York-based private foundation, is committed to finding science-based solutions and working towards the development of targeted treatments to improve the lives of people who have genetic and developmental differences.
Primary outcome measures
- Baseline comprehensive collection of medical, behavioral, learning, and developmental information of people who have documented gene changes that are associated with features of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. [Time frame: Baseline data is collected over the course of one month, on average.]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Longitudinal, or long-term, comprehensive collection of medical, behavioral, learning, and developmental information from people who have documented gene changes that are associated with features of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. [Time frame: Repeat data collection will occur on a regular basis and will be obtained over the course of one month, on average]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Subjects of any age with a genetic condition on our eligible list along with their biological family members. Current list can be found at: https://www.simonssearchlight.org/research/what-we-study/
- Must be fluent in English or a supported language. Current supported languages are Spanish, French, and Dutch, with more to come.
- Able to register and participate through our online platform, which can be accessed through any device able to connect to the internet.
- Able and willing to provide consent.
Exclusion criteria
-Some genetic changes that we study have regions or variants that are not eligible for our research. This is determined during our laboratory review that is completed by trained and certified genetic counselors. These specific ineligible regions or variants can change frequently.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Family-based
Study locations
United States · 2 centers
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston
- Geisinger Health System — Lewisburg
Publications
- Weiss LA, Shen Y, Korn JM, Arking DE, Miller DT, Fossdal R, Saemundsen E, Stefansson H, Ferreira MA, Green T, Platt OS, Ruderfer DM, Walsh CA, Altshuler D, Chakravarti A, Tanzi RE, Stefansson K, Santangelo SL, Gusella JF, Sklar P, Wu BL, Daly MJ; Autism Consortium. Association between microdeletion and microduplication at 16p11.2 and autism. N Engl J Med. 2008 Feb 14;358(7):667-75. doi: 10.1056/NE PMID 18184952
- Simons Vip Consortium. Simons Variation in Individuals Project (Simons VIP): a genetics-first approach to studying autism spectrum and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuron. 2012 Mar 22;73(6):1063-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.02.014. Epub 2012 Mar 21. PMID 22445335
- Zufferey F, Sherr EH, Beckmann ND, Hanson E, Maillard AM, Hippolyte L, Mace A, Ferrari C, Kutalik Z, Andrieux J, Aylward E, Barker M, Bernier R, Bouquillon S, Conus P, Delobel B, Faucett WA, Goin-Kochel RP, Grant E, Harewood L, Hunter JV, Lebon S, Ledbetter DH, Martin CL, Mannik K, Martinet D, Mukherjee P, Ramocki MB, Spence SJ, Steinman KJ, Tjernagel J, Spiro JE, Reymond A, Beckmann JS, Chung WK, PMID 23054248
- Moreno-De-Luca A, Evans DW, Boomer KB, Hanson E, Bernier R, Goin-Kochel RP, Myers SM, Challman TD, Moreno-De-Luca D, Slane MM, Hare AE, Chung WK, Spiro JE, Faucett WA, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH. The role of parental cognitive, behavioral, and motor profiles in clinical variability in individuals with chromosome 16p11.2 deletions. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Feb;72(2):119-26. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.20 PMID 25493922
Identifiers
NCT: NCT01238250 · 2023-1257 · Simons Searchlight · Simons VIP · Simons VIP Connect