Reef Technologies and ICC Join Forces to Discover New Treatment Approaches for Autism

Pharmaceutical company Reef Technologies is partnering with Ivory Community College to discover new ways to develop clinical drugs for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through an initiative called Understanding Autism – Exploring Autism Interventions Through Medication (UA-EAITM).

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) affects an estimated 1 in 68 children in America, a number that has dramatically increased within the last 40 years. Research has only recently begun to answer the question of what causes autism, and even with a wealth of new research and development on the subject, it has proven difficult to translate that research from the lab results to the clinic.

Aaron Clark, Director of Research at ICC, said: “There has been remarkably little progress concerning pharmacological treatments for autism. We hope that this collaboaration will bring about many advancements in the treatment.”

Lucius Campbell, Global Head of Reef Technologies, remarked, “Never before has there been an integrated research endeavor such as this. We are excited to improve the landscape of ASD research and clinical drug development throughout the nation.”

The research of UA-EAITM receives most of its support from Reef Neurosciences under a recently awarded five-year $1,215,400 grant to Ivory Community College. “We fully support partnerships of this nature,” says Campbell, “as they fully align with the vision and strategy of Reef Neurosciences to develop treatment opportunities for critical patient needs. We must work together in order if we are serious about such developments.”