Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition affecting over five million people in the European Union. The combination of core symptoms (deficits in social-communication and repetitive and restricted behaviours and interests) and common comorbidities (e.g. epilepsy and depression) significantly reduces the quality of life and life-span of affected individuals. Currently there are no effective drug treatments for the core symptoms. Key factors that have hampered progress include; 1) limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiolog(ies); 2) lack of successful translation from animal models to humans; 3) testing of drugs with specific actions in biologically heterogeneous populations; 4) limited expertise of many European ASD centres in running large-scale clinical trials; and 5) trial designs (e.g. placebo effects).

Our vision, therefore, is to apply a precision medicine approach to ASD and improve patient outcomes by tailoring treatments to a patient’s biological profile. Our efforts will build on the achievements of 5 other IMI initiatives, 4 Horizon 2020 networks, and 6 SMEs for the first time to; 1) align global resources to validate and qualify stratification biomarkers from infancy to adulthood; 2) develop objective outcome measures that can be used in trials; 3) create a European-wide clinical trials network that reliably carries out studies able to support filings to the EMA/FDA; 4) carry out better targeted clinical trials linked to other international efforts – including quick wins or “fast fails” of ineffective agents; 5) translate molecular mechanisms and drug effects between preclinical models and particular subtypes of ASD.