Autism spectrum disorder

A neurodevelopment disease

Autism spectrum disorder refers to a range of neurodevelopment disorders  characterized by anomalies (repeated patterns of behavior) that can vary in diversity and intensity from one individual to another. It affect about 1 every 100 births.

Early symptoms include difficulties to communicate and interacts with social partners, repeated atypical behaviors, few centers of interest and sometimes disproportionate sensory reactions. Children displaying autism spectrum symptoms appear to be different than children their own age. They rarely make eye contact, may find challenging to have typical discussions with their counterparts and usually focus on restricted centers of interest.

Autism spectrum can present comorbidities such as hyperactivity, anxiety and other OCDs. Some individual with autism can present cognitive difficulties including various intensity of intellectual deficit, operational functions deficits, or the other way around exceptional mental capabilities. It also often comes with sleeping difficulties, nutritional problems and sometimes epilepsy.

Autism is treated in two directions:

• Educational / behavioral adaptation which as been rather successful in children with AS. These interventions are performed by therapists in a highly structured and custom manner to help develop the social and language skills they lack.
• Medications are mainly targeting symptoms associated with Autism. Some antipshychotic can be used to alleviate severe behavioural problems that cannot be modified by behavioral therapy.

ASD assays & models

in vitro models

• Our member Neuroservice, CNS expert in in vitro cell and slice electrophysiology, provides:
  • Electrophysiological assays on slice from autism models
  • Electophysiological assays on iPSC-derived neurons from ASD patients

in vivo models

• Our member Key-Obs, expert in models and behavioural assays of neurological disorders, provides behavioural investigations of Tg or pharmacological autism rodent models

Are you currently working on compounds targeting Autism?

Please contact us for any additional information and we will gladly come back to you. We can also set up a dedicated meeting between you and our experts to discuss our CRO services and your research needs.