The Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP): AIMS-2-TRIALS

What we want to find out

This research programme aimed to better understand how autism and commonly co-occurring health conditions develop from childhood to early adulthood.  

The project set out to identify measurable features called ‘biomarkers’ with the aim of understanding individual differences between autistic people. 

Why did we do this research

The Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP) is one of the largest studies in the world to identify variability in autism in terms of behaviour, cognition, co-occurring conditions, outcomes, brain structure/function and genetics. 

Identifying biomarkers and analysing large datasets of autistic people can help researchers look for subgroups within the data. Different groups of people may develop in different ways or may be more or less likely to have co-occurring mental health challenges. This research therefore helps us better understand the diversity of autism moving away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach.  

In the future this could help in the development of more effective treatment options that are better tailored to each person’s needs, preferences, and strengths. 

Method

The research programme includes a range of studies carried out by different groups. This includes the Autism Research Centre (University of Cambridge), the Institute of Psychiatry (King’s College London), the University Medical Centre (Utrecht), Radboud University Medical Centre (Nijmegen), Central Institute of Mental Health (Germany), University Campus Bio-medico (Rome, Italy) and the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm).  

Over 700 families have taken part in the study. Autistic and non-autistic people were 6-30 years old at the start of the study, and include males and females, and those with co-occurring intellectual difficulties.  

Some participants took part at 1 or 2 timepoints. Other participants were involved at three points over a period of 10 years including participants from sites in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Each wave of the study included one or two visits to the research centre. 

During visits, participants were invited to take part in: 

The first two timepoints of this project took part within a project called EU-AIMS and the third timepoint as part of AIMS-2-TRIALS.  

Community engagement

Community engagement was included in this project through the AIMS-2-TRIALS autism representatives’ group (A-Reps) which includes autistic people, parents and carers of autistic people. This work was further supported by a dedicated community engagement coordinator.  

The group provided feedback on the data collection plans for the third timepoint of LEAP and have contributed to the data analytics plans and data interpretation for several projects carried out using LEAP data. To ensure considered and ethical sharing of LEAP data, we worked with A-Reps to develop a data sharing plan, including designing a panel to review external data requests with both researchers and autism community members. Additionally, we received input on accessibility and language of communication materials about data sharing. 

A-Reps have worked alongside researchers on several LEAP projects, contributing as co-authors. 

Potential impact 

This project will help researchers understand how autism and commonly co-occurring conditions (such as epilepsy or anxiety) develop from childhood into adulthood. The findings could support autistic people and their families by increasing awareness, acceptance, informing policy, and creating more options for those who want support.   

Because every autistic person is different, the project aims to highlight a range of needs rather than one approach for everyone. 

Results

Data analysis for the project is ongoing, you can find more details on the AIMS-2-TRIALS project publications, news and A-Reps pages.  

Funders

EU-AIMS funding: This research has been supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 115300. It includes funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) and in-kind contributions from EFPIA companies.  

AIMS-2-TRIALS funding: This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 777394. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA and AUTISM SPEAKS, Autistica, SFARI. 

Selected Publications

For the full list of publications, see the AIMS-2-TRIALS publications page.

Bast, N., Ahmad, J., Mason, L., et al (2025). Locus coeruleus tonic upregulation increases selectivity to inconspicuous auditory information in autistic compared to non-autistic individuals: a combined pupillometry and electroencephalography study. Molecular Autism. August 2025.

de Jonge, E., Garcés, P., de Bildt, A. et al. (2025) Atypical Resting-State EEG Graph Metrics of Network Efficiency Across Development in Autism and Their Association with Social Cognition: Results from the LEAP Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. February 2025. 

Floris, D.L., Llera, A., Zabihi, M. et al. (2025) A multimodal neural signature of face processing in autism within the fusiform gyrus. Nature Mental Health. January 2025.

T Charman, E Loth, J Tillmann, D Crawley, C Wooldridge, D Goyard, J Ahmad, B Auygeung, S Ambrosino, T Banaschewski, S Baron-Cohen, S Baumeister, C Beckmann, S Bölte, T Bourgeron, C Bours, M Brammer, D Brandeis, C Brogna, Y de Brujin, B Chakrabarti, I Cornelissen, F Dell’ Acqua, G Dumas, S Durston, C Ecker, J Faulkner, V Frouin, P Garcés, L Ham, H Hayward, J Hipp, R Holt, J Isaksson, M Johnson, E Jones, P Kundu, M-C Lai, X D’ardhuy, M Lombardo, D Lythgoe, R Mandl, L Mason, A Meyer-Lindenberg, C Moessnang, N Mueller, L O’Dwyer, M Oldehinkel, B Oranje, G Pandina, A Persico, B Ruggeri, A Ruigrok, J Sabet, R Sacco, A San José Cáceres, E Simonoff, R Toro, H Tost, J Waldman, S Williams, M Zwiers, W Spooren, D Murphy & J Buitelaar. The EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP): clinical characterisation, Molecular Autism. 2017.

E Loth, T Charman, L Mason, J Tillmann, E Jones, C Wooldridge, J Ahmad, B Auygeung, C Brogna, S Ambrosino, T Banaschewski, S Baron-Cohen, S Baumeister, C Beckmann, M Brammer, D Brandeis, S Bölte, T Bourgeron, C Bours, Y de Brujin, B Chakrabarti, D Crawley, I Cornelissen, F Dell’ Acqua, G Dumas, S Durston, C Ecker, J Faulkner, V Frouin, P Garces, D Goyard, H Hayward, L Ham, J Hipp, R Holt, M Johnson, J Isaksson, P Kundu, M-C Lai, X D’ardhuy, M Lombardo, D Lythgoe, R Mandl, A Meyer-Lindenberg, C Moessnang, N Mueller, L O’Dwyer, M Oldehinkel, B Oranje, G Pandina, A Persico, A Ruigrok, B Ruggeri, J Sabet, R Sacco, A San José Cáceres, E Simonoff, R Toro, H Tost, J Waldman, S Williams, M Zwiers, W Spooren, D Murphy & J Buitelaar. The EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP): design and methodologies to identify and validate stratification biomarkers for autism spectrum disorders, Molecular Autism. 2017.

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