Trial Outcomes & Findings for Expanding Autism Diagnostic Biomarkers to Kenya (NCT NCT06685822)

NCT ID: NCT06685822

Last Updated: 2026-08-05

Results Overview

Group (autism presence/absence) differences in the eye-tracking biomarker will be tested to determine whether this metric is predictive of autism diagnosis. Clinical diagnosis was obtained based upon a standardized clinical evaluation in the parent study. The evaluation included: 1) a semi-structured caregiver(s) clinical interview to gather information about developmental history and autism symptoms and 2) a battery of standardized child clinical observational measures. Eye-tracking biomarker will be recorded during a brief one-time research visit. Biomarker (% looking time in non-social region) on a scale for 0 to 100, with greater values reflecting increased attention to non-social information. Cutoff of 40% is used to determine autism likelihood.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

27 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Day 1

Results posted on

2026-08-05

Participant Flow

We will recruit children enrolled in HEAL-R study to the study between November 2024 and April 2025. Aligned with previous inclusion criteria, we will recruit and test young children, ages 14-72 months, with increased likelihood for autism and children without autism.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Children Participate in Eye-tracking Activity
Research participation includes a one-time eye-tracking activity in which the child will view a series of different pictures and movies while their eye movements and pupil diameter are tracked and recorded.
Overall Study
STARTED
27
Overall Study
COMPLETED
27
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Expanding Autism Diagnostic Biomarkers to Kenya

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Children Participate in Eye-tracking Activity
n=27 Participants
Children enrolled in the HEAL-R Autism at MTRH study will be enrolled into the study. Research participation includes a one-time eye-tracking activity in which the child will view a series of different pictures and movies while their eye movements and pupil diameter are tracked and recorded.
Age, Continuous
4.57 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.81 • n=20 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
7 Participants
n=20 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
20 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
27 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=20 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Kenya
27 participants
n=20 Participants
Eye-tracking Biomarker
42.84 % looking time
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.79 • n=20 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Day 1

Population: Participants that provided usable eye-tracking data (n=3 did not provide usable data; Autism: n=2; Non-Autism: n=1).

Group (autism presence/absence) differences in the eye-tracking biomarker will be tested to determine whether this metric is predictive of autism diagnosis. Clinical diagnosis was obtained based upon a standardized clinical evaluation in the parent study. The evaluation included: 1) a semi-structured caregiver(s) clinical interview to gather information about developmental history and autism symptoms and 2) a battery of standardized child clinical observational measures. Eye-tracking biomarker will be recorded during a brief one-time research visit. Biomarker (% looking time in non-social region) on a scale for 0 to 100, with greater values reflecting increased attention to non-social information. Cutoff of 40% is used to determine autism likelihood.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Autism
n=16 Participants
Child evaluated an diagnosed with autism (based on parent study)
Non-Autism
n=8 Participants
Child evaluated and diagnosed with a non-autism condition (e.g., developmental delay; based on parent study)
Agreement Between Eye-tracking Biomarker Score and Autism Diagnosis
Autism (index test)
13 Participants
1 Participants
Agreement Between Eye-tracking Biomarker Score and Autism Diagnosis
Non-Autism (index test)
3 Participants
7 Participants

Adverse Events

Children Participate in Eye-tracking Activity

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Rebecca McNally Keehn

Indiana University School of Medicine

Phone: (317) 274-2121

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place