A new clinical trial at Southern Cross University’s National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), looking at improving anxiety management in adults with autism, is calling for participants.

The trial, funded by Australian company Medibis Pty Ltd, will assess whether a medicinal cannabis product can assist with anxiety management in adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis.

The trial is being conducted through the Clinical Trials Centre at the Southern Cross University Lismore campus. Dr Janet Schloss, Clinical Research Fellow, is the Coordinating Principal Investigator, and Professor Andrew Cashin, Professor of Autism and Intellectual Disability, is the Principal Investigator.

“The conduct of this clinical trial will allow us to understand if medicinal cannabis could offer benefit in adults living with ASD,” said Professor Cashin.

Researchers are seeking generally healthy people aged 18+ years with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD. Twenty-four people will be recruited into the trial over the coming months.

This 15-week trial has six face-to-face appointments at the Lismore clinical trials centre, including blood and urine tests.

For more information and to see if you’re eligible, check out: https://redcap.link/MCASD or email NCNMtrials@scu.edu.au.

This research has been approved by the Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee 2024-09-1241.