Research Participation Opportunities

Hormones and DNA Methylation in Autism

This project is recruiting members of the greater Kansas City area. The study requires two visits to the Center for Child Health and Development. The first visit consists of a cognitive (IQ) assessment, medical exam, and behavioral assessments. During the second visit parents complete questionnaires and behavioral rating scales and the child has approximately 2.5 tablespoons of blood drawn. The participants receive a $25 gift card to Target for each visit.    

Who is eligible for the study?

• Children 4 or 5 years of age
• Boys with diagnosed (or suspected) autism or atypical autism (PDD-NOS)
• Boys and girls with no developmental problems

Because illness and/or medication might affect the blood tests, we are looking for healthy children who are not on daily medications. Learn more.

For more information or to enroll in the study, please contact Study Coordinator Jordan Roberts at 913-588-0893 or Jroberts4@kumc.edu.

Communication Success and Alternative or Augmentative Communication (AAC)

This project is recruiting up to 170 preschool-age children in Kansas, including Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita, who are not speaking or who are using very few words and who are using various alternative communication strategies or devices. Learn more.

Enhancing Social Turn-Taking Research Project

KU is enrolling up to five families of children with autism to participate in a five-month home-based social language intervention project. In this study, social language will be measured using an automated vocal analysis system called LENA, a tiny digital speech recorder, It is one of the first studies to use an automatic voice recorder to measure the effects of intervention. Learn how you can help.

Household Moves Project: Research About Downsizing Possession in Later Life

Persons 65 years of age or older are being sought to participate in this project, which is looking at the work that older people go through to move out of one place and into another. If you have moved in the last 4 to 6 months and live in Lawrence, Kan., Greater Kansas City, or the greater Detroit area, learn more about participating.

Project Workout on Wheels

This project is recruiting participants for a study based at the KU Medical Center and funded by the National Institutes of Health to test the effectiveness of a program to promote exercise among wheelchair users. While testing is done at KUMC, participants exercise at home or any other setting of their choice. Learn more.