The Gut-Brain Study

Nearly 1 in 60 children are diagnosed with ASD, a dramatic increase from the start of the 21st century. Although most children with ASD exhibit core social communication deficits, very limited interests, repetitive behaviors and sensory problems, the severity of symptoms and how well each child responds to standard behavioral therapies can vary tremendously from patient to patient. This makes it difficult to enact effective interventions. Other variables also influence the outcomes for ASD patients, including age at first diagnosis, access to care, the quality of treatments and the expertise of interventionists. Children with ASD also have medical disturbances, which affects their quality of life and compliance in intervention programs. For example, approximately 40 percent of children with ASD have gastrointestinal disturbances (GIDs). Genetics plays a substantial role in risk, but scientists also have determined that non-heritable factors can trigger the expression and severity of ASD symptoms. Clinical research studies from PI laboratories have focused on the gut-brain link that influences ASD symptoms, how a child functions and even responds to interventions . The investigators hypothesize that children with ASD will tolerate single endoscopic delivery of fecal transplant therapy which will modify their gut microbial profile leading to reduction of repetitive and rigid-compulsive behaviors, based on the Repetitive Behavioral Scales-Revised (RBS-R). Secondary outcomes include improved score in social responsiveness scale and gastrointestinal symptoms . Investigators propose a phase I safety study for the use of FMT in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.