Research Studies
Research Studies
Participating in autism research helps improve understanding, diagnosis, support, and inclusion for autistic individuals now and in the future. When RAN at UAH is notified by researchers about a new study opportunity or receives notifications from researchers seeking participants, we will share the opportunity here. Participating in autism research studies benefits everyone by advancing knowledge that leads to better therapies, education, healthcare, and inclusion—not just for autistic individuals, but for families, professionals, and society as a whole.
Research studies often offer different types of compensation, which can include:
Monetary Payment – Cash, checks, or digital payments for time and participation.
Gift Cards – Cards to popular retailers or restaurants as a thank-you.
Reimbursement – Covering travel, parking, meals, or childcare costs.
Course Credit – For students, some studies offer academic credit.
Free Services or Assessments – Access to diagnostic evaluations, therapies, or reports at no cost.
Prizes or Raffles – Entry into a drawing for larger rewards.
Results or Feedback – Personalized summaries or insights (especially in psychological or medical studies).
Each study explains compensation clearly during recruitment or in the informed consent process.
Check back frequently for updates in this study pool. For additional lists for research opportunities, see the links at the bottom of the page.
Evaluate the STEP Program which prepares for employment, post-high school training, or college.
Study by UA Center for Youth and Development Intervention
16-25 years old
Up to $240 per family awarded
Understand the healthcare experiences of families living in rural areas.
Study by UAB
Parents of 3-17 year old(s)
$50 gift card awarded
For interest in participating, contact: zacharyarnold@uabmc.edu
Understand loneliness among autistic adults to help create a new measure of loneliness.
Study by UCLA
18+ years old
$30 Amazon gift card awarded
Modifying a therapy, TF-CBT, for autistic kids and teens affected by trauma.
Study by Dartmouth Health
16-25 years old
Monetary compensation
Assessing the utility of Toca Boca’s creative play apps for children with ASD.
Study by UAB - Toca Boca
4-13 years old
Compensation for participation.
Making a program to teach autistic young adults with ID about romantic relationships.
Study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
18+ years old
Monetary compensation
If interested in participating, contact: garagozzoa@chop.edu
Seeking to understand challenges and needs in driver training for autistic teens.
Study by UAB
15-18 years old
Up to $200 awarded
Exploring connections between an autistic individual's camouflaging behaviors, social relationships, and well-being.
Study by KU
18+ years old, diagnosis, English-literate
Understanding the everyday experiences of autistic children and younger siblings.
Study by UA
1-4 years old, within 5 hours from UA, child either has an autism diagnosis or a sibling with autism diagnosis
$100 awarded
Improving communication between schools and families of children with autism.
Study by VU
Parent of 3-21 year old(s)
Healthcare provider’s use of developmental milestones in referral decisions and patient education.
Study by Samford
Available to healthcare providers including SLPs
Improving Reading Comprehension, including an MRI and 10 week intervention.
Study by UAB
7-13 years old
Up to $250 awarded
Help enhance emergency preparedness for autistic children and provide resources.
Study by Childern's National
Parent of diagnosed child, 18+ year old individual
Helping autistic people thrive emotionally.
Study by UA
10-30 years old, located in Alabama or Pennsylvania
Examining socio-emotional competencies.
Study by UAB and UCONN
11-14 years old, diagnosis of learning disorder
$50 awarded
Surveying Black families to learn about their experiences accessing services for autism.
Study by USA
All ages welcome
$50 awarded
Surveying eating habits and food preferences of toddlers with no known diagnosis.
Study by USA
18-35 months
Understand the effect of environmental pollution on ASD severity.
Study by UAB
3-10 years old
$50 awarded
Help researchers understand what friendship means to someone with autism and how connections are made.
Study by UCLA
10-17 years old
$30 awarded
For interest in participating, contact: uclafriendshipstudy@gmail.com
Understanding individual's emotional response to everyday life events.
Study by UA Department of Psychology
18-55 years old
Up to $200 awarded
Research to accelerate the implementation of precision medical care using AI to research therapeutic strategies to treat genetic disorders including rare disease.
Study by UAB Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute
Genetic Disorders / Rare Diseases
More opportunities to participate in research studies can be found on the following websites:
UAB Huntsville Psychiatric Research Program Play an active role in the future of Huntsville's mental health.