Principal investigator: Dr. Chelsea Sawyers
Funding: Department of Psychiatry
STAR Lab

This study is currently recruiting teens from 13-17 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are doing this study to help better understand the differences in behavior, emotions, and learning in ASD. During some of the computer games in this study, a special camera will track your eyes as they move across the screen. We will ask you to provide a genetic saliva sample by drooling into a tube. This study will allow us to learn more about the different types of experiences of those with ASD to help inform future therapy options. In this study, you will be asked to visit our lab at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) or our lab at the Collaborative Advance Research Imaging Facility (CARI) 1-2 times for study visits. The first study visit will last about 1 hour and the second visit will last about 2 hours. Families can choose to complete visit 1 and 2 on the same day. Compensation is provided.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact the STAR lab by phone 804-628-8709 or email starlab@vcu.edu. 

Principal investigator: Dr. Chelsea Sawyers
Funding: Children's Health Research Institute
STAR Lab

This study is currently recruiting teens from 13-17. We are doing this study to learn how childhood experiences relate to how the brain works when you see emotional faces. The computer games used in this study will present pictures of faces showing different emotions and a special camera will track your eyes as they move across the screen. This study will allow us to learn more about how different types of experiences in childhood effect someone’s brain when they are processing social information. In this study you will be asked to visit our lab at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) for 1-2 times for study visits and possibly visit our lab at the Collaborative Advanced Research Imaging facility (CARI).  The study visit at VTCC will last 1.5-3 hours and the CARI visit would last approximately 2 hours if you are invited to a follow-up MRI visit. Compensation is provided.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact the STAR Lab by phone at 804-628-8709 or email starlab@vcu.edu.

PURPOSE:
We would like your help! We are interested in learning how guanfacine immediate release (GIR) acts in the bodies of children with Down syndrome. We are conducting a study called “Guanfacine for Hyperactivity in Children with Down Syndrome” (HYP01) to better understand the safest and most effective dose of GIR in children with Down syndrome to treat hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity. Knowing the right dose of medicine for children is important to
have the best outcome and the fewest side effects.

WHO CAN BE IN THE STUDY?

• Children with Down syndrome (DS) who are between
  the ages of 6 and 12 years old,
• who have non-mosaic DS,
• who have hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity,
• and who meet other eligibility criteria to be in the study.

IS THERE ANY COST?
There are no additional costs for participating in this study.

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

• Once enrolled, your child will be in the study for approximately 10 weeks. We will ask you to come to the office on day 1, and at week 4 and week 8.
• We will ask you questions about your child’s medical history, prescribed medicines, and demographics (e.g., age, ethnicity, race).
• This is a randomized placebo-controlled study, which means your child may be given either active study drug or a placebo.
• We will collect blood samples up to 3 times (at screening, week 4 and week 8 visits).
• We will perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess your child’s heart rhythm at screening, week 4 and week 8 visits (to do this we will attach small sticky pads to your child’s chest, arms, and leg).
• You will complete questionnaires about your child’s behavior and sleep and will complete a diary of when your child took their medication.
• We will call you weekly to see how your child is doing on the medication and discuss whether to increase the dose.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact FYRN by phone at 804-628-8736 or email fyrn@vcuhealth.org. 

If your young child has been diagnosed with ADHD and still struggles with hyperactivity and inattention, we ask you to consider taking part in the 812P401 Study. We are evaluating a study medication called SPN-812 to see if it has any effect on ADHD symptoms in preschool-aged children. SPN-812 is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Your child may be able to join the 812P401 Study if they:

• Are between 4 years and 5 years 9 months of age
• Have been diagnosed with ADHD
• Have tried non-medication treatment OR have symptoms severe enough to warrant treatment with medication
• Are attending a structured group activity (such as preschool, kindergarten, sports, Sunday school, or childcare)

There are other requirements for taking part. The study team will go over the details with you.

Study-related expenses may be reimbursed, and children in the study will receive close study-related medical care throughout the study. After completing this study, your child may qualify to move on to an extension study.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact FYRN by phone at 804-628-8726 or email fyrn@vcuhealth.org. 

The 421 Pediatric Bipolar Study is looking at how safe a potential new medication (study drug) is and how well it works in teenagers with bipolar disorder experiencing major depressive episodes (MDEs). This is also known as bipolar depression. The study drug is approved for the treatment of bipolar depression in adults. However, it is not approved for the treatment of teenagers with bipolar depression. We plan to enroll a wide variety of participants because bipolar depression and medications may affect people differently based on their age, sex, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Your child may be able to take part if they are:

• 13–17 years of age with a diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder
• Currently experiencing an MDE without psychosis that lasts between 1 and 12 months.

The study will last for about 2 months and about 384 teenagers
will take part in the study. This study has been reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee (EC), which protects the rights, safety, and well-being of participants.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact FYRN by phone at 804-628-8736 or email fyrn@vcuhealth.org. 

We are looking for children and teenagers who are:

• 5-17 years of age with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• experiencing irritability, which can be expressed as tantrums, aggression, yelling, or self-harming behavior.
• *We are currently only enrolling teenagers who are 13-17 years of age. Younger children will be enrolled later*

The 601/602 Pediatric Autism Study is looking at a potential new (investigational) medication ("study drug") for irritability in autistic children and teenagers. It is hoped that the study drug can:

• help restore the balance of chemicals in the brain that are important for regulating mood
• reduce the severity of irritability and behaviors linked with it

The study will last for about 2 months and include up to 9 study center visits.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact FYRN by phone at 804-628-8736 or email fyrn@vcuhealth.org. 

Principal investigator: Dr. Annie Wright
Funding: Information Pending
FAM Lab

The purpose of the study is to better understand the experience of foster parents including their motivations to become foster parents, experience accessing resources, and perceptions of their foster child’s wellbeing. Participants must be over the age of 18, certified foster parents in the state of Virginia, and currently caring for a foster child ages 3-17. The child has to have been in their care for at least the past month and be anticipated to remain in their care for at least another month from the time of participating.

If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact the FAM lab by phone at 804-628-8771 or email fam.research@vcuhealth.org. 

Principal investigator: Dr. Ekaterina Stepanova
Funding: VCU Department of Psychiatry
VAPR Lab

Participate in our study exploring impulsive/reactive aggression in children (ages 4-12), involving two appointments with diagnostic assessment conducted by experts in the field and self-assessment measures. If you are interested in participating in this study please complete our Registry or contact the VAPR lab by phone at 804-628-8737 or email vaprlab@vcu.edu.