What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  •  ASD is described as a “neurological developmental disorder” and symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.
  • Almost all children with ASD have deficits in adaptive skills, many have intellectual (learning) disabilities, social and communication difficulties.
  • Children of all genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds can be diagnosed with ASD.
  • Although ASD can be a lifelong disorder, early interventions and treatment can improve a child’s symptoms and daily functioning.
  • Early signs of ASD are often apparent at the infant stage of development. These include lack of eye movement and non-verbal social interactions. 
  • ASD has been shown to have a substantial financial impact on families and affects their quality of life. 

Prevalence of ASD

  • 3.5 million adults and children in North America have been diagnosed with ASD.
  • The CDC reported that approximately 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (As of 2023, based on data gathered in 2020).
  • Boys are more than 4 times as likely to be identified with ASD than girls.

How is ASD Currently Diagnosed 

  • Diagnosis of ASD is based on subjective (psychological / behavioral) evaluations (e.g., ADOS, ADI).
  • Objective laboratory tests are not part of the current diagnostic algorithm
  • Diagnosis is often made at specialized clinics/centers (far away from “home”), and may require testing over multiple days
  • Age of testing – in many cases children are not tested until the age of ~3 – 4, despite the evidence to suggest that earlier diagnosis and start of treatment/intervention are beneficial for outcomes

Researching Biomarkers to Identify children at high risk of developing ASD

Cell-El is working to identify blood-borne, ASD-specific diagnostic markers. Using proteomics Cell-El’s initial analysis of a broad panel of serum proteins has identified a pattern of biomarkers that can be used to discriminate between typically developed (TD) children and those on the autism spectrum.  Read more about our scientific method and published research:

photo of a blood test, licensed image from elements.envato.com

Participate in the Diagnostic Study

We look forward to your participation in the Cell-El screening study. Please read the information below regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the following cohorts: 1. Infants and their mothers and 2. Children pre and post Stem Cell Therapy (SCT). Then please fill out the appropriate form. Please note: At this time we are only recruiting participants residing in Israel.

Important Information

Please click on the titles below to view the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

  • Cohort of infants and their mothers: Mothers of high-risk infants and infants aged 10-19 months not diagnosed with ASD, but with a sibling diagnosed with ASD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV (299.00) or DSM-V (299.00) or
  • Cohort of children pre and post SCT: Male and female children age 2-18 years old diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV (299.00) or DSM-V (299.00) undergoing stem cell therapy.
  • For both cohorts: Informed consent signed by the parents

For both cohorts:

  • Child and/or mother completed treatment with systemic steroids or immune suppressants less than 4 weeks before the screening visit
  •  
  • Child and/or mother diagnosed with severe infectious diseases or sepsis over the last 6 months
  • Child with ASD treated for a severe convulsive disorder
  • Child and/or mother with hematological or malignant disorder

For children in the SCT cohort: 

  • No new planned immune-modulating treatment (other than SCT) for at least 6 months before or after planned stem cell transplantation date.

Parent / Clinician Forms

We are interested in hearing from you and would like to know more about how you want to participate in the Cell-El study. Please fill out the appropriate form below and we will contact you.
Please note: At this time we are only recruiting participants residing in Israel.

Parent’s Form

If you are a parent of a child diagnosed with ASD, please fill out the form below.


    Country: Israel

    I am interested in taking part in the study for:

    Yes! I would like to subscribe to the Cell-El mailing list


    If you do not see a thank you message after pressing send you have not filled in all the required fields. Please review your form and fill in the missing information, otherwise, your form will not be sent.

    Clinician’s Form

    If you are a clinician treating children diagnosed with ASD, please fill out the form below.


      I am interested in finding out more about the study for:

      Yes! I would like to subscribe to the Cell-El mailing list

      If you do not see a thank you message after pressing send you have not filled in all the required fields. Please review your form and fill in the missing information, otherwise, your form will not be sent.