CANDAL

CANDAL aims to bring together clinicians, service users and academics with an interest in neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Tourette syndrome (TS).

The centre was established as an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) Centre of Excellence in 2012 under the directorship of Chris Hollis, Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Research issues

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourettes Syndrome (TS), and Autism spectrum Disorder (ASD) are common and impairing conditions that frequently co-exist and affect about 1 in 20 people across the lifespan.

The recognition of these conditions has increased rapidly in recent years leading to concerns about both over- and under- diagnosis. The growing awareness that these conditions not only affect children and young people, but typically persist into adult life has created a significant unmet clinical and research need to understand developmental factors in presentation and treatment response.

CANDAL is unique because unlike other research groups that typically focus on a single disorder either in children or adults, we study these conditions in combination and across the lifespan.

How we are tackling neurodevelopmental disorders

1. Engaging in world leading research into the causes, mechanisms, course, recognition and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan
2. Translating research findings into clinical practice to improve recognition, diagnosis and treatment outcomes
3. Developing a clinical database/ registry and ‘research clinics’ to facilitate research participation and outcomes
4. Supporting clinical innovations, including the development and evaluation of new healthcare technologies for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders
5. Strengthening links and the exchange of ideas and knowledge between researchers, clinicians and service users/ members of the public
6. Fostering and enhance collaborations including with industry

Outcomes

For all of our publications, please visit our members' profiles.