Spectrum 10K: Update on autism DNA study expected later this year – Liam O’Dell

Further information about the future of the controversial University of Cambridge project is expected to be shared later in 2024, Liam ODell can reveal.

Spectrum 10K was paused by researchers in September 2021 in order to carry out a consultation with the autism community, with the three-stage process concluding in May 2023.

However, the final report from independent consultants Hopkins Van Mil (HVM) on the findings of the consultation survey remains unpublished more than a year later.

Spectrum 10K academics failed to meet three 2023 deadlines for the documents publication, and in January an update from HVM told stakeholders to exercise patience.

It read: We are now in the process of collating our responses to the consultation feedback and recommendations to explain what we have learnt, the changes we will make in how we conduct research studies and how and why we want to continue to engage with the autism community in a meaningful way.

We are aware that our consultation participants, and the autism community more broadly, are awaiting this information and we would like to ask for your patience while we finish this process.

The full independent report and our response will be published on both the Hopkin Van Mil website and the Spectrum 10K website in due course.

Except questions are still being asked of the studys future, after Spectrum 10Ks website went offline in March without explanation.

In that same month, following a Freedom of Information request being made to the University of Cambridge by Liam ODell, the institution said the report would be published in the coming months.

This is despite the university initially telling this website the publication was imminent.

Now, in a statement on Friday, the Health Research Authority (HRA) pointed to further developments coming later this year.

A spokesperson said: We know that the Spectrum 10k team are taking the time to review the project following their consultation.

We expect to receive an update from the team regarding next steps for the study later this year.

The watchdog, which oversees the ethics of research studies, continues to monitor the studys progress after concluding an investigation into the project in May 2022.

The regulator said its favourable opinion of Spectrum 10K still stands, but added some of the issues raised as part of the complaints process could have been considered during the original review.

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This report is the latest in his series The Spectrum 10K Files, with the full story of the controversial autism project explored in his upcoming non-fiction book, Selling Out the Spectrum to be published in late 2024.

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Spectrum 10K: Update on autism DNA study expected later this year - Liam O'Dell