The Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network is an integrated discovery program which aims to understand the neurobiology of neurodevelopment disorders* and translate the findings into effective new treatments. Our work is motivated by recent evidence which suggests that the biological mechanisms underlying these disorders may be shared across different diagnoses or different between individuals with the same diagnosis. Thus, by understanding this underlying biology, we can subgroup individuals based on their biology rather than their diagnostic label, which may result in more effective treatment response. This also allows us to identify novel treatment targets and test them through our clinical trials network- a first in Canada. Through this research-driven strategy, we hope to accelerate the development of new interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders that are more targeted to each person’s biology and improve long-term outcomes.
*The POND Network studies neurodevelopmental disorders such as 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 associated with neurodevelopmental disorder difficulties.