Information and documents for download here In Avion with Modrá Hliadka At a talk in Panta Rhei We celebrated the 10th anniversary

These days, on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day, our new book AUTIZMUS od A po S is coming to you, dear parents and friends, in cooperation with the IKAR publishing house.

During the pandemic period, a team of renowned authors with many years of experience managed to assemble knowledge and experience related to the diagnosis of autism.
The book also offers practical guidelines for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. You will also find testimonials from parents who point out how important and useful it is to become sensitive to the needs of people with this disorder and their families.

Welcome to the ARCA website

Our vision

The Academic Research Center for Autism (ARCA) was established in 2013 on the initiative of prof. MUDr. Daniela Ostatníkova, PhD. The center is part of the Medical Faculty of Comenius University and is a unique research center dealing with autism spectrum disorders in Slovakia. The primary mission is to integrate research activities focused on autism, to introduce standard diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols according to evidence-based medicine in cooperation with parents of children with autism and relevant institutions in Slovakia. As a part of our research projects, we have implemented standard diagnostic tools and protocols in Slovakia and we offer free diagnostics to children from all over Slovakia, whose parents agree to the participation of their children in research projects. Together we look for the causes of this disorder and the possibilities of its therapeutic effect. We are a training center for students and professionals who have decided to use their expertise to help children with autism spectrum disorder and their inclusion in society.

Activities of ARCA are focused on:

    • DIAGNOSTIC

      DIAGNOSTIC

      The diagnostic process at the Academic Research Center for Autism is free, but we ask the parents to cooperate in the form of engaging in a research process that is based on providing biological samples of the child



    • EDUCATION

      EDUCATION

      The Academic Research Center for Autism deals with many activities aimed at educating the professional and lay public.





    • RESEARCH

      RESEARCH

      At the Academic Research Center for Autism, we focus on interprofessional research into the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of autism in domestic and foreign grant projects. Our interdisciplinary team is made up of experts from several fields, namely, neurology, psychology, molecular biology, genetics, nutrition and pharmacy.

News

Daniela Ostatníková: Autizmus sprevádza človeka po celý život, neexistuje tabletka, ktorá ho vylieči

Nový rozhovor s pani profesorkou Ostatníkovou pre magazín akčné ženy. „Autizmus je výzva pre nás, väčšinovú spoločnosť. Mali by sme deti s autizmom v spoločnosti nielen tolerovať, ale akceptovať. Pochopiť, že sú iní, že inak vidia svet, že inak myslia a cítia,” hovorí prof. MUDr. Daniela Ostatníková, PhD. Svoj život zasvätila výskumu autizmu. Čítať ďalej…

Hľadáme deti do výskumu – pomôžte nám lepšie porozumieť poruchám autistického spektra

Akademické centrum výskumu autizmu, v spolupráci so Slovenskou akadémiou vied a Slovenskou technickou univerzitou v Bratislave, hľadá do výskumu deti s diagnostikovanou poruchou autistického spektra, verbálne (hovoriace v celých vetách, vo veku 6-11 rokov. V rámci účasti na projekte absolvuje dieťa: komplexnú diagnostiku príznakov PAS, zmeranie intelektu a exekutívnych funkcií, testovanie teórie mysle, adaptívneho správania

Krištáľové krídlo za rok 2020 – Mimoriadne ocenenie

ACVA tím s hrdosťou gratuluje pani profesorke MUDr. Daniele Ostatníkovej, PhD., ktorá si prevzala Mimoriadne ocenenie, Krištáľové krídlo za rok 2020, za svoju celoživotnú prácu, v ktorej sa venuje výskumu mozgu a jeho funkciám a v posledných desaťročiach najmä téme autizmu. Foto zdroj: Peter Frolo, web: Krištáľové krídlo pozná laureátov 24. ročníka BRATISLAVA, 20. júna – Poznáme

Projects and grants

COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of Slovak families with children with autism spectrum disorder and families with typically developing children The research aimed to monitor changes in the mental health of families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as families with neurotypical children, from first to third wave of

Sex-specific microbiome and gene interactions in the pathogenesis of behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms in the animal model of autism spectrum disorder

Sex-specific microbiome and gene interactions in the pathogenesis of behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms in the animal model of autism spectrum disorder (APVV-20-0114) Principal investigator: Doc. MUDr. Aleksandra Tomova, PhD. Annotation Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex of neurodevelopmental conditions with increasing incidence. Genetic background of ASD explains

Psychological and biological correlates of adaptive behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorders in multidisciplinary insight

Psychological and biological correlates of adaptive behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorders in multidisciplinary insight (APVV 20-0139) Principal investigator: doc. MUDr. Katarína Babinská, PhD. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by lifelong impairments in social interaction, communication and by stereotyped behaviour and interests. Due to the severity

Recent publications

Examining Erythrocytes as Potential Blood Biomarkers forAutism Spectrum Disorder: Their Relationship to SymptomSeverity and Adaptive Behavior

AUTHORS: Jasenovec, T., Radošinská, D., Belica, I., Rašková, B., Púzserová, A., Vrbjar, N., Radošinská, J. ABSTRACT: Background: Multiple research teams have documented various abnormalities in erythrocyte properties in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with neurotypicalindividuals. Reduced erythrocyte deformability, a crucial factor for microcirculation and oxygen delivery, may affect brain function. Other key factors

Steroidogenic pathway in girls diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders

AUTHORS: Jansakova, K., Hill, M., Celusakova, H., Repiska, G., Bicikova, M., Macova, L., Polonyiova, K., Kopcikova,. M., Ostatnikova, D. ABSTRACT: The diagnostic prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) shows boys to be more affected than girls. Due to this reason, there is a lack of research including and observing ASD girls. Present study was aimed

The relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and symptoms severity in young children with autism

AUTHORS: Kopcikova, M., Raskova, B., Belica, I., Bakos, J., Celusakova, H., Chladna, Z., Zibolenova, J., Ostatnikova, D. ABSTRACT:Objective. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities. The aim of this study was to determine the postnatal levels of thyroid hormones

Our team

COOPERATION WITH