Non-invasive Auricular Fiber Vagus Nerve Stimulation (afVNS) for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

NCT ID: NCT06473623

Last Updated: 2026-01-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-01

Study Completion Date

2026-02-10

Brief Summary

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Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for the symptomatic improvements in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Detailed Description

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A single arm open-label study in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for evaluating treatment effects of non-invasive VNS, specifically auricular fiber vagal nerve stimulation (afVNS). A total of 20 patients diagnosed with ASD will be recruited to evaluate the feasibility of home healthcare application of afVNS and for assessment of short-term treatment effects on symptoms and comorbidities. ASD patients will receive 1 x hour per day afVNS treatment over 14 days with a fixed neuromodulation protocol. The primary outcome measure is feasibility assessed from completion success and neurostimulation tolerance. Secondary outcome measures include changes in scores pre- and post- afVNS treatment for Clinician Global Clinical Impression (CGI-I), Clinician Global Impression Severity (CGI-S), Children's Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI-R), Parent-Rated Anxiety Scale for ASD (PRAS-ASD), Autistic Behavior Checklist (ABC), Cleveland Adolescent Sleep Questionnaire (CASQ), verbal fluency and biomarker measures in autonomic physiology.

Conditions

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Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

DEVICE_FEASIBILITY

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Treatment Arm

Receiving intervention of the non-invasive neurostimulation device.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

vagus nerve stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Non-invasive Auricular Fiber Vagus Nerve Stimulation (afVNS)

Interventions

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vagus nerve stimulation

Non-invasive Auricular Fiber Vagus Nerve Stimulation (afVNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Written informed consent
* Age: between 7 and 26 years
* Participants and parent/ guardian must have proficiency in English
* Diagnosis of ASD as defined by ADOS-2 or DSM-5 criteria

Exclusion Criteria

* Severe psychiatric disorders (e.g. bipolar, major depressive disorder)
* Severe neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, epilepsy)
* Bradyarrhythmia
* History of head trauma (surgery or tumor)
* Active medical implants (cochlear, VNS or pacemakers)
* Cerebral shunts
* Auricular skin disease that compromises placement of electrodes
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

26 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Neuropix

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Daniel Ko, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Neuropix

Locations

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Hong Kong Science Park

Tai Po, , Hong Kong

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Daniel Ko, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+85255308212

Angela Peng, Bsc

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Daniel Ko, PhD

Role: primary

+8525530821

References

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Jin Y, Kong J. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A Promising Method for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Front Neurosci. 2017 Jan 20;10:609. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00609. eCollection 2016.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28163670 (View on PubMed)

Black B, Hunter S, Cottrell H, Dar R, Takahashi N, Ferguson BJ, Valter Y, Porges E, Datta A, Beversdorf DQ. Remotely supervised at-home delivery of taVNS for autism spectrum disorder: feasibility and initial efficacy. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Sep 28;14:1238328. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1238328. eCollection 2023.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37840787 (View on PubMed)

Molero-Chamizo A, Nitsche MA, Bolz A, Andujar Barroso RT, Alameda Bailen JR, Garcia Palomeque JC, Rivera-Urbina GN. Non-Invasive Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Study Protocol. Brain Sci. 2022 Jan 12;12(1):95. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12010095.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35053839 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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01A

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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