Current Studies
If you are interested in participating in any of our current studies, please reach out to us at lunalab@umassmed.edu.
IEP Project
Looking for: Caregivers of children ages 3-22 who have an autism diagnosis
What you would do: Submit an IEP and complete surveys on satisfaction with your child’s IEP.
Purpose of this study: Our research seeks to understand the nature of educational inequity for students with ASD by exploring the impact of developmental category, symptom severity, race, culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on the special education services provided to students ages 3-21. The study is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese (Cantonese/Traditional characters).
Looking Study (Eye Tracking)
Looking for: Children ages 8-12 with a diagnosis of autism, ADHD, autism and ADHD, or without a diagnosis of either, plus one parent/caregiver.
What you would do: Attend a one-time study visit at the lab for about 60-90 minutes. During this visit, the child will view a series of images and videos on a computer while their eye movements are tracked using an eye tracking camera. They will also wear an “Empactica” bracelet on their wrist to track heart rate. They may also complete a brief IQ screener. The parent/caregiver will bring a copy of a recent assessment for the research team and complete some questionnaires. Families will be paid $20 for their time.
The purpose of the study: We are exploring how eye movements can provide important information to distinguish between autism and ADHD, which can be challenging clinically.