Studies Enrolling Participants Ages 5-11

BRAIN-online Web-based Brain Assessment Study

Study description

The goal of this study is to use the information collected  to develop more efficient ways of identifying cognitive and behavioral challenges in youth with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and improve availability to high-quality diagnostic services for youth with PAE who may not otherwise have access.

Recruitment parameters

  • Between the ages of 8-16
  • FASD diagnosis or prenatal alcohol exposure

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email our study coordinators, Mary Anthony, Kent Tuominen and Alex Doughty at [email protected].

Study keywords

FASD, FAS, pFAS, ARND, PAE, web-based

The BRAIN Study

Study description

This study obtains data from neuropsychological testing and brain imaging in boys at-risk for or with early-stage cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) to uncover early, pre-clinical indicators of the disease. Data from these cohorts will be compared to data from typically developing boys to assess whether any neurocognitive changes precede or coincide with disease progression and development.  Visits include the participant completing some activities on an iPad while caregivers fill out questionnaires assessing the behavior of their child and any caregiver stress/coping experiences.

Recruitment parameters

  • Boys between the ages of 3-15  
  • EITHER have an ALD diagnosis OR are typically developing and healthy

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email Rachel Floersch at [email protected].

Study keywords

ALD, typically developing, neuropsych testing, MRI, coping strategies

FORWARD-MARCH (Fragile X Online Registry with Accessible Research Database-Multiple Assessments for Research Characterization)

Study description

The FORWARD-MARCH project will collect survey data from parents and caregivers and conduct several tests with participants to understand their cognition (thinking), language, behavior, and autism characteristics. About two years after your clinic visit for FORWARD-MARCH, we will ask you to repeat the same questionnaires and tests and make a clinic visit. This is because information is expected to change somewhat over time. This will help us learn how individuals with FXS change over time and as they age. You will receive a summary of your testing results from the assessments and can use these as needed to complement or inform school evaluations, or for other social or disability programming.

Recruitment parameters

Only individuals with FXS born between 2003-2020 are eligible to participate in FORWARD-MARCH. This includes participants who were previously enrolled in the FORWARD study and those new to FORWARD.

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, visit the webpage, email Desirae Rambeck at [email protected] or call 612-624-0183.

Study keywords

Fragile X Syndrome

Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain Positive Behavior Program

Study description

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) are looking for research participants for a study about interventions for physical aggression to others and/or self-injury in children with autism or another neurodevelopmental disability with co-occurring intellectual disability or global developmental delay. Parents will receive coaching and other supports to help reduce physical aggression to others and self-injury in their child.

Participants receive parent coaching for 30-60 minutes, 3x weekly for 16 weeks either in person at MIDB or through videoconferencing home visits. Participants then are followed for four visits across 6 months to see how they are doing. Questionnaires and interviews are given before, during, and after the intervention. Overall, parents commit to 16 months of participation in parent coaching and followup. Compensation is up to $450 per child/family.

Recruitment parameters

  • Child is between 5-17 years old, has autism or another neurodevelopmental disability with co-occurring intellectual disability or global developmental delay, has delays in cognitive or communication skills
  • Child experiences physical aggression to others and/or self-injury that occurs at least multiple times a week

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email [email protected] or call Emily Hollerich at 612-365-0006.

Study keywords

Autism, intellectual disability, global developmental delay, self-injury, aggression, parent coaching
 

Precision Longitudinal Brain-Behavior Mechanisms of Adolescent Executive Function: An Open Science MIDB Dataset (OpenEF)

Study description

The OpenEF Study explores how executive function (EF)—the ability to plan, focus, and regulate behavior—develops in adolescents and young adults. Participation includes weekly visits over 8 weeks with activities such as questionnaires, cognitive assessments, daily smartphone tasks, and optional MRI, blood, and smartwatch data collection.

Recruitment parameters

  • Between the ages of 10-25
  • Has not had any diagnosis, treatment, or current medication for psychiatric conditions within the past 12 months

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email [email protected].

Study keywords

Executive Function, Adolescents, MRI imaging, brain-behavior-biomarker study

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) & Cognitive Training Study

Study description

The goals of this clinical trial are to determine if children with FASD benefit from repeated sessions of computerized “games” designed to build attention, concentration, memory, and problem-solving and also to test whether mild electrical current on the scalp called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve learning during the computerized “brain training”.

Recruitment parameters

  • Between the ages of 8-17
  • With FASD diagnosis or prenatal alcohol exposure

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email our study coordinators, Mary Anthony, Kent Tuominen and Alex Doughty at [email protected].

Study keywords

FASD, FAS, pFAS, ARND, PAE, tDCS, cognitive training

Multimodal Profiling of Response to Pediatric Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (TReC Study)

Study description

The purpose of the TReC study is to identify who is most likely to benefit from CBIT, how CBIT changes the brain, and which parts of CBIT sessions are more helpful. This study will look at changes in tics over the course of treatment. By using neuroimaging methods such as EEG and fMRI, this study will add to the field's understanding of the neurological mechanisms that take place during CBIT and will assess which CBIT factors are most important for reducing tic symptoms.

Recruitment parameters

  • Between the ages of 10-17
  • With current chronic motor and/or vocal tics
  • Must be able to undergo MRI and/or EEG

Study contact information

To reach our study team, call (612) 626-5544 or email [email protected]. Complete our contact form to connect with us!

Study keywords

CBIT, mental health, motor tic, tic, Tourette syndrome, vocal tic

Visual Biofeedback to Reduce Head motion During MRI Scans: Brainmapping Cohort

Study description

This study aims to help eliminate head motion in adolescents while they perform tasks in the MRI by providing participants with visual biofeedback on their performance. 

Recruitment parameters

  • Between the ages of 5-15
  • With epilepsy and/or ADHD
  • Must be able to undergo MRI

Study contact information

To learn more about the study, email Helayna at [email protected].

Study keywords

ADHD, adolescents, MRI task