Lurie Center for Autism Research

At the Lurie Center for Autism, our research team is dedicated to answering questions that matter for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Under the leadership of Dr. Jacob Hooker, our interdisciplinary research team of physicians and scientists collaborate with researchers at MassGeneral Brigham and around the world to uncover the root causes of ASD and related disorders and to discover the most effective interventions.

In our Lexington-based clinic, individuals with ASD actively engage in research studies, gaining access to promising new treatments and becoming vital partners in the discovery process. By participating in research, you drive discoveries and advance knowledge for everyone. If you would like to be contacted about new research studies, please join our registry.

In our state-of-the-art Charlestown laboratories, our scientists employ cutting-edge technologies to discover the molecular, genetic, and cellular foundations of ASD, paving the way for innovative interventions that enhance the lives of those with ASD and their families. 

Current Clinical Studies

Current Lurie Center for Autism Studies for All Ages

• Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders Biobank  
• Effect of Childhood ADHD on Substance Use and Related Disorders in Adolescents and Adults with ASD – This study is ages 11 years and older

Current Lurie Center for Autism Studies for Children

• Genome Environment Microbiome and Metabolome in Autism (GEMMA)
  To learn more about the GEMMA study, follow this link.
• Bone oxytocin study (BOX) - Did you know children with autism are at risk for low bone density?
• Characterizing sleep physiology in ASD: a path from genes to treatment – recruiting volunteers with and without ASD for an at-home sleep research study 

Current Lurie Center for Autism Studies for Adults

• How Do Autoimmune Disorders Relate to Autism?
  
  • Goal: To investigate autoimmune disorders and how they relate to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Seeking Volunteers: Males, 18-50 years old, diagnosed with ASD, as well as their biological parents or siblings. Also seeking neurotypical participants, males 18-50 years old, with no autoimmune conditions.
  • For More Info: Autistic volunteers click here. Neurotypical volunteers click here.

• Investigation of Neuroinflammation in Autism Using MR-PET
  • Individuals with ASD
  • Neurotypical Adults 
• Epigenetics in autism: an in vivo PET imaging study
  • Individuals with ASD
  • Neurotypical Adults
• Uncovering Communication Potential in Minimally Verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder
• IRIS/Maplight – A randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study to investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ML-004 in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 
• Fluoxetine treatment of depression in adults with Down Syndrome

Preclinical (Laboratory) Research

The Preclinical Research Team at the Lurie Center for Autism are at the forefront of investigating the complex biological processes underlying ASD. Our dedicated lab scientists use a variety of techniques to uncover the molecular, genetic, and cellular mechanisms that contribute to the development of ASD. Their work provides an essential pipeline of new therapeutic targets and approaches for intervention.

Meet our Preclinical Faculty Team

Jacob M. Hooker, PhD 

Professor, Radiology, Harvard Medical School
Scientific Director, Lurie Center for Autism, MGH
Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport MGH Research Scholar
Director, Radiochemistry, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, MGH
Martinos Center Chemical Neuroscience Program
Athinoula A. Martinos Center

Kelly Dakin, PhD

Associate Scientific Director, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH

Evan Bordt, PhD 

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Investigator, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH
Bordt Lab

Marcy Kingsbury, PhD

Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Investigator, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH
Principal Investigator at the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Department of Pediatrics at MGH

Sudhir Thakurela, PhD 

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Director of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH
Thakurela Lab

Angélica Torres-Berrío, PhD

Investigator, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH
Director of the Social and Cognitive Research Division, Lurie Center for Autism at MGH 

Meet our Lurie Center Faculty Associates

Why Participate in Research?

• Blum Center Resources
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Kids in Research
• NIH Clinical Research Trials Basics
• Autism Speaks® Participant's Guide to Autism Drug Research