Project 1: Breakdown of Research Costs

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1. Initial Study Costs

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• Laboratory Testing and Supplies: £40,000  (Biomarker analysis, external lab services, and equipment maintenance)​​

  • ​Biochemical Testing: £25,000​​​ 

    • Blood, urinary, and stool sample analyses for nutritional biomarkers, thyroid hormones, and gut microbiome profiling. Includes consumables and reagents.

• External Lab Services: £10,000 

  • Advanced tests like mass spectrometry for iodine, selenium, and molybdenum.

• ​Laboratory Testing and Supplies Cost Breakdown:

  • Equipment Calibration and Maintenance: £5,000

    • To ensure reliable and accurate results for internal lab tests.

 

The allocated costs reflect expenses beyond the physical use of the lab. 

 

Why Lab Access Isn’t Truly “Free”?

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Biochemical Testing Costs:​​

• Includes consumables, reagents, and equipment maintenance required for specialised analyses (e.g., blood, urine, and stool samples.

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Example: Tests for nutritional biomarkers, thyroid hormones, gut microbiome diversity, etc., can involve high-cost assays, especially when analysing multiple samples across 150 twin pairs (300 children).

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External Contracted Tests:​

• Advanced analyses like mass spectrometry (iodine, selenium, molybdenum levels) may need outsourcing.​

 

​Specialised Equipment and Consumables:​

• Costs of reagents, kits, and calibration materials for high-throughput testing can accumulate even with access to lab infrastructure.

 

Subtotal: £40,000

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Participant and Recruitment Costs: £35,000​

• Recruitment and Outreach: £5,000

  • Costs for advertising via ASD registries, clinics, and advocacy networks to recruit 150 twin pairs.

• Participant Compensation: £15,000 

  • £100 per participant for 300 children involved in the study, reflecting the time and effort required for sample collection and parental surveys.

• Dietary Assessment Tools: £5,000 

  • Licenses for tools like Qualtrics or NutriSurvey to collect and analyse detailed dietary data.

• Parental Workshops and Support: £10,000 

  • Sessions to educate parents, gather feedback, and support participant families.

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Subtotal: £35,000

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Data Collection and Analysis: £15,000

• ​Survey Development and Deployment: £5,000

  • Development and implementation of surveys/questionnaires to capture dietary and lifestyle data.

• Statistical Software: £5,000

  • Licenses for software like SPSS, SEM tools, or R for advanced data analysis.

• Data Security and Storage: £5,000

  • Ensures compliance with GDPR and secure cloud-based storage for sensitive participant data.

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Subtotal: £15,000

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2. Follow-Up Intervention Study Costs

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1. Intervention Design and Development: £20,000

• Intervention Planning: £10,000

  • Covers the design of intervention protocols, including iodine and selenium supplementation dosages and schedules, as well as the phased introduction of food-based supplements

• Pilot Testing: £10,000

  • Small-scale testing to ensure the feasibility and safety of the intervention plan before full-scale implementation.

 

2. Participant Recruitment for Intervention Study: £10,000

• Recruitment Outreach: £5,000

  • Advertising and reaching out to families involved in the initial study to recruit 75 twin pairs for the intervention phase.   

• Recruitment Logistics: £5,000

  • Covers administrative costs, communication with families, and distribution of study information packets.

 

3. Supplementation Costs: £35,000

• Iodine and Selenium Supplementation: £20,000

  • Procurement of pharmaceutical-grade supplements, ensuring quality and safety for participants. Includes packaging and distribution.

• Food-Based Nutritional Supplements: £15,000

  • Covers costs for food-based supplements and the logistics of introducing them mid-study. This includes sourcing, packaging, and delivery to families.

 

4. Lab Testing (Post-Intervention): £40,000

• Biomarker Analysis: £25,000

  • Includes testing for changes in nutritional biomarkers, thyroid function, and gut microbiome composition pre- and post-intervention.

• Gut Microbiome Profiling: £15,000

  • Specialised tests to assess shifts in microbial diversity and composition due to the intervention.

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5. Compliance and Monitoring: £15,000

• Participant Adherence Monitoring: £8,000

  • Includes mid-study check-ins with families, compliance tracking, and providing additional support where needed.

• Health and Safety Oversight: £7,000

  • Regular evaluations to ensure participants are safely adhering to the intervention protocols.

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6. Analysis and Reporting: £7,000​

• Data Integration: £4,000

  • Combines pre- and post-intervention datasets for a comprehensive analysis of outcomes.

• Advanced Statistical Analysis: £3,000

  • Utilises specialised software for in-depth evaluation of intervention efficacy.

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7. Final Reports and Dissemination: £5,000

• Stakeholder Reports: £2,000

  • Detailed reports prepared for funders, autism charities, and academic collaborators.

• Presentation Materials: £3,000

  • Develops clear, impactful materials for conferences and community engagement events.

 

Subtotal: £132,000

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3. Shared and Miscellaneous Costs

• Ethics and Compliance: £7,000

  • Ethical approvals and liability insurance.

• Open-Access Publications: £5,000

  • Covers fees for 1–2 high-quality journal articles.

• Unforeseen Costs Fund: £8,000

  • Provides a contingency buffer for unexpected expenses.

• Travel: £8,000

  • Regular travel for lab work and meetings.

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Subtotal: £28,000

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Grand Total required: £250,000

 

We kindly invite you to join us in our mission to advance research that holds the promise of a brighter future. Your generous donations can make a significant impact, helping us uncover breakthroughs that can change lives. Together, we can turn hope into reality and foster a world filled with possibilities. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to our goal. Thank you for your support!

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