Neurodevelopmental disorders arise from differences in the growth and organization of the brain and the nervous system. Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome, Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome or any genetic differences leading to developmental challenges are among those who are said to have a neurodevelopmental disorder. There are more than 300,000 children and youth in Ontario with neurodevelopmental disorders. Although there have been significant gains in the managment of some of these disorders, our ability to change long-term outcomes remains limited. There are few effective medications/devices and they are only partially effective and have significant adverse effects, particularly in children. Psychosocial interventions have some evidence that are fully tailored to each child youth or young adult. Thus, there is a clear and urgent need for new and better-targeted therapies that also include behavioural and psychosocial interventions.
To address these gaps, the POND Network has brought together a multidisciplinary team of scientists, clinicians, engineers, and community stakeholders who share the goal of improving the long-term outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This network is carrying out research to understand the biological underpinnings of these disorders and has created a clinical trials network that focuses on speeding up the development of new and more effective medications/devices and psychosocial interventions in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders — a first in Canada.
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