SHARE-BIO
A Pilot Study of Clinically Meaningful Cardiometabolic Health Research in Autism
SHARE-BIO is a new research study from the UCLA SHARE research team. It builds on the SHARE Study to better understand how stress and physical health are connected in autistic adolescents and young adults.
Dr. Hotez and her team are studying how experiences of chronic stress and measures collected through the SHARE Study may relate to important markers of physical health, including blood sugar and inflammation. The goal is to help improve our understanding of cardiometabolic health in autistic people and inform future research, healthcare, and supports.
Who Can Participate?
You may be eligible if you:
- Already participated in the SHARE Study
- Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range classified as obesity
What Does Participation Involve?
The study can be completed from home and includes one virtual Zoom visit lasting about 1 hour.
Before your visit, we will mail you a study kit with everything you need. During the Zoom visit, a research team member will guide you through using a small device called a Tasso to collect a small blood sample from your upper arm.
The Tasso device sticks to the skin and uses gentle suction to collect a few drops of blood. You will then mail the sample back to UCLA using prepaid return packaging that we provide.
We will use the sample to measure:
- HbA1c, which tells us about average blood sugar levels over the past few months
- CRP, which is a measure of inflammation in the body
You may have a trusted person help you during the visit, and you can ask questions, take breaks, or stop at any time.
Pictured: Tasso device
Interested in SHARE-BIO?
If you are interested in participating or would like to learn more, please email the SHARE Study research team at uclasharestudy@gmail.com.
In your email, simply let us know that you are interested in SHARE-BIO. A member of our research team will contact you with more information and help determine whether the study is a good fit for you.