Pharmacological Probing of Sleep in Children with Autism
Official title: Project 2: Pharmacological Probing of Sleep Physiology in Autism
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11408808 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project investigates how a sleep-related drug affects sleep patterns and daytime behavior in kids with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $382,710 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD109861-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408808 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, particularly those with sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Not every child with ASD will experience a meaningful sleep or behavior improvement from this specific pharmacological approach.
What this research studies
If you have a child with autism who struggles with sleep, this study explores how certain medications may influence sleep architecture and related behaviors. Researchers will study sleep physiology in children and adolescents with ASD, aiming to identify potential targets for improving both sleep and core autism symptoms. The work involves human participants and builds on prior findings that sleep disruption can worsen communication, social interaction, and daily functioning in ASD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better sleep and improved behavior and mood for children with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked sleep improvements to better daytime functioning in ASD, but direct pharmacological modulation of sleep in ASD remains an area of active research.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hardan, Antonio — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hardan, Antonio
Related research
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Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa for Young Children
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Autism and Self-regulation: Remote Testing of Heart-Related Signals in Kids
A study to see if remote testing can safely measure how children with autism and disruptive behavior manage emotions and self-control by tracking heart signals and other markers.
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Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.