Scientists launch pioneering autism test

A Sunderland-based biotechnology company has launched a pioneering urine test which could support the early identification of autism and related gut health concerns in young children.

Analutos has introduced the Microbially-Derived Metabolites test following 16 years of research into how gut bacteria can affect overall health and wellbeing.

The test is based in part on findings from a collaborative study with Arizona State University in the US, published in the Nature journal Molecular Psychiatry.

The research followed almost 100 children, including children diagnosed with autism and typically developing children, and found differences in urinary compounds derived from gut bacteria and yeasts between the two groups.

Analutos, which was founded in 2010 by Kevin Carr as a spin-out from the University of Sunderland, operates from a laboratory at the North East Business & Innovation Centre in Sunderland.

Kevin says the test may help families seeking earlier insight while children are waiting for autism assessments, as well as supporting further understanding of gut health.

He adds that funds raised from the testing will be used to support other areas of autism research through ESPA Research.

Kevin said: “Our colleague at ESPA Research, Paul Shattock OBE, who set up one of the first autistic schools in the UK and was previously president of the World Autism Organisation, has a severely autistic family member himself so we all made a commitment that proceeds made from the tests would go to ESPA Research.

“We are all members of ESPA Research, which for the past 16 years has done so much great work to alleviate some of the major challenges faced by people with autism, and hopefully the tests can go some way to ensuring this great work continues for years to come.

“We have already received orders from around the globe and as demand grows and we continue to develop the tests, it is likely that we may have to recruit a couple of extra members of staff. 

“It’s been an incredibly exciting few months and hopefully the best is still yet to come.”

Analutos currently employs three people and hopes to expand as demand grows and it develops further research projects.

Dr Paul Whiteley, a director at Analutos, added: “With thousands of children worldwide awaiting an autism assessment, this urine test potentially represents a major step forward in screening and onwards early intervention for young people with autism.

“We’ve been analysing samples with our partners in Arizona for over five years, running checks and looking at the data and have finally come up with a suite of compounds which we believe can help provide markers to determine if there’s a good chance somebody has autism and should be seen by professionals.

“On the whole, it has been 16 years in development, but with the UK alone having tens of thousands of people awaiting an autism assessment, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve and hope it can go a long way to helping address the assessment crisis.”

Paul McEldon OBE, chief executive of the BIC, said: “Analutos is a trail blazing business which is playing a key role in helping address one of our society’s greatest challenges.  

“The company is a fantastic success story for the North East, flying the flag for the region’s life sciences sector across the globe, and it gives us great pride to have been able to play even a small role in supporting them on their journey.”

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