Autism risk will be determined before IVF

Genetico has launched a research program on the genetic nature of autism

Alexandra Dementieva, RIA AMI

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a frequent and extremely urgent problem of modern medicine: about 1% of children have such a diagnosis today. In order to study genetically determined forms of autism and subsequently reduce the risk of having children with ASD, the Genetico Center for Genetics and Reproductive Medicine on Monday announced the launch of its scientific and practical research program.

The genetic component makes a significant contribution to the occurrence of such disorders, therefore, its study and differential diagnosis are important for making an accurate diagnosis to a child in the family, as well as for future offspring. 

For research, 150 boys and 50 girls with a diagnosis of ASD are recruited into the program, whose families want to clarify whether ASD has a genetic nature in their case. The decision on inclusion in the program is made by the Center's geneticist after consultation.

According to Dmitry Boguslavsky, Director of Genetico, the program assumes a significant amount of modern molecular genetic research and development at the expense of the Center, the total cost of which will be more than 12.5 million rubles. The Center's specialists will assess the frequency of genetically determined forms of autism in Russia for the first time, and by June 2018 they plan to develop an algorithm for genetic examination of patients with ASD.

As a result, for the first time in Russia, test systems will be developed for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of mutations leading to ASD in families with high genetic risk, according to a press release received by RIA AMI.

In the course of research for five families who have mutations that cause ASD and who want to do PGD during IVF in order to give birth to a healthy child, the Center will develop an individual diagnostic set of PGD.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  03.07.2017