POND’s clinical trials network for neurodevelopmental disorders is revolutionizing study design and research standards.

The Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders Network (POND), one of OBI’s Integrated Discovery Programs, is reshaping the future of care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). By centering its research and clinical trials on the needs of patients and families, POND is advancing personalized treatments that address the unique challenges posed by these conditions. This approach leverages a distinctive framework that explores both commonalities and differences across various NDDs.

POND’s scope covers a wide range of conditions including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, and many rare genetic syndromes such as Rett syndrome, and Fragile X syndrome, among many. While these disorders often share biological mechanisms – such as genetic risk factors, neural connectivity disruptions, and cognitive or brain alterations – POND’s research has uncovered important individual variations in how these conditions present and appear in each person. These findings are driving the network's mission to develop tailored treatments that fit each child’s unique needs.

At POND’s annual Family Day in February 2023, program lead Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou - who is also a child neurologist and the Vice President of Research and Director of the Bloorview Research Institute - highlighted the challenge clinicians face in treating over 300,000 children with NDDs in Ontario. “Treating all children with ASD or ADHD the same way isn’t effective,” she said.

"To truly impact development, we need to move beyond diagnostic labels and understand the unique biology, needs and preferences of each child.”

- Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, POND program lead​

With Canada’s first clinical trials network dedicated to NDDs, POND is setting new standards in research. Seven years ago, in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, POND identified the top ten research priorities for people impacted by NDDs. Today, the network continues to align its studies with these real-world challenges, focusing not only on clinical outcomes but also on improving quality of life.

POND’s patient-centered approach to clinical trials goes beyond traditional endpoints, usually to determine if a new form of treatment or prevention, such as a new drug, diet, or medical device, is safe and effective in people. Instead, their trials focus on the ways in which they may improve quality of life for children and families, using approved medications to target underlying biological mechanisms tied to everyday challenges they may face. For instance, one of POND’s recently completed trials explores whether a drug currently used to treat muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis can improve social function and reduce irritability and hyperactivity in children with NDDs by calming the nervous system.

Dr. Anagnostou has emphasized how POND is shifting the ways in which clinicians assess and treat behaviors related to NDDs. Rather than focusing solely on a child’s diagnosis, the network is considering how patients and their families perceive daily challenges. She noted that by being “a little agnostic to diagnosis,” POND aims to develop interventions and supports that have a meaningful impact on day-to-day life.

As part of this work, a recent study that involved a team of researchers from POND, examined the overlap between ADHD and ASD, discovering how factors like age and sex influence brain development. The findings revealed no distinct neuroanatomical profiles for each condition, pointing to the need to consider individual characteristics when studying NDDs. While the two disorders share some behavioral traits, such as difficulties with focus, communication, and anxiety, these characteristics can vary significantly depending on individual factors.

By prioritizing real-world improvements for children and families, POND is charting a new course toward more impact-driven, personalized treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Learn more about how POND is leading the way.