Randomized controlled trials (RCT) in ASD and PWS patients
This lab conducted several RCTs with Dr. Xue-Jun (June) Kong as PI. One of them is to assess potential therapeutic effects of probiotics and oxytocin alone vs use in combination in ASD children, found a significant synergistic effects on ASD severity in combination group. Dr.Kong also led two RCTs as PI using probiotics for children with PWS, a syndromic ASD, found significant social function and overall development improvement by probiotics L-reuteri. Additionally, Dr.Kong co-led trial of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of ASD children, found significant improvement of ASD severity score and sleep quality by tDCS. These finished RCTs led 8 peer reviewed publications and 2 patent filing, one of the patent was technology transfered. There is one ongoing co-led trial of vagal nerve stimulation for ASD patients and two upcoming probiotics RCT for ASD children.
Early screening and biomarker study for ASD
Dr. Kong led this lab as PI conducted eye tracking study and validation study of a new ASD screening method RITA-T compared with ADOS-2 in toddlers, also led early screening study of EEG, EEG coupled with eye tracking, and imaging biomarkers, incorporated with machine learning/AI analysis, autoimmunity and inflammatory markers, autonomic index, we found these objective biomarkers and subjective tool and could help early diagnosis and screening of ASD and promote targeted corresponding early interventions. These works led more than 10 peer reviewed publications, 2 patent filing and 1 copyright, of the patents and the copyright were technology transferred. There are ongoing eye tracking and sleep EEG data analysis projects and upcoming imaging projects for ASD early identification.
Gut brain axis and Oxytocin signaling study
Dr. Kong led this lab and conducted several human research projects aiming to compare ASD and healthy controls for their oral and gut microbiome, oxytocin level, autonomic function index, also immunological biomarkers, found their significant correlation with ASD core symptom severity which assist in diagnosis and subtyping ASD and guide the corresponding treatments. These works led 5 peer reviewed publications and 1 patent filing. There is ongoing data data analysis project.
ASD cortical response and social brain study
Dr. Kong served as PI or co-I in several projects in studying auditory brain stem dysfunction, social brain dysfunction, functional connectivity in ASD patients, involved in EEG, ERP and functional imaging investigation in ASD. We found speech-evoked auditory brainstem response is impaired in ASD preschoolers which could serve as objective to monitor language development as a neurophysiology subtype of ASD. Functional brain imaging studies demonstrated social brain dysfunction and reduced connectivity in postcentral gyrus in ASD. These works led 6 peer reviewed publications. There is one ongoing study.
ASD care model research
Dr. Kong led this lab proposed Primary care and co-production model for ASD, Early screening and adulthood transition protocol, Dental care, nutrition, and house call program for ASD, ASD and co-morbidities, East meets west approach for ASD, ASD pain management, ASD talent development protocol. These works led 5 peer reviewed publications.