About Us

Our research group is dedicated to finding the causes of autism, how to prevent autism, and how to best help people with autism. Our research team and collaborators includes many physicians, nutritionists, biochemists, scientists, study coordinators, and other staff.

Our focus is primarily on biomedical issues, including nutritional deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and bacterial/yeast overgrowths in the gut. However, we strongly recommend that a combination of biomedical, behavioral, therapy, and educational interventions be used to best help children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Meet James B. Adams, Ph.D.

James B. Adams is a father of 3 children, including an adult daughter with autism, and that is what led him to shift his research to autism, focusing on biological causes and treatments. He is currently a President’s Professor at Arizona State University, where he conducts research on autism.

 

His Service in Autism Research

  • President and co-founder of Gut-Brain Axis Therapeutics, Inc.
  • President and co-founder of Autism Diagnostics, LLC
  • President and founder, Autism Nutrition Research Center, 2013–present
  • Co-Founder and Chair of Scientific Advisory Committee of the Neurological Health Foundation, 2013–present
  • President, Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, 2000–2022

Research Program Contact

PO Box 876106
Tempe, Arizona 85287-6106

Phone: (480) 965-3316
Fax: (480) 727-9321

Email: jim.adams@asu.edu

Prof. James B. Adams, Ph.D.
The ASU Autism/Asperger’s Research Program is led by Prof. James Adams.

Autism-Related Scientific Articles Published by Our Team

Note: The results of the scientific studies below are incorporated in the parent-friendly Summary of Dietary, Nutritional, and Medical Treatments for Autism.

 

  1. Bradstreet J, Geier DA, Kartzinel JJ, Adams JB, Geier MR.  A Case-Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 8 (3) Summer 2003 76-79.
  2. Adams JB and Holloway C, Pilot study of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement for children with autistic spectrum disorder.  J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Dec;10(6):1033-9.
  3. Adams JB, George F, Audhya T Abnormally high plasma levels of vitamin b(6) in children with autism not taking supplements compared to controls not taking supplements.  J Altern Complement Med 2006 Jan-Feb;12(1):59-63.
  4. Adams JB, Holloway CE, George F, Quig D, Analyses of Toxic Metals and Essential Minerals in the Hair of Arizona Children with Autism and their mothers, Biol. Tr. El. Res 2006 110 193-209.
  5. Liu, X.C., Hubbard, J.A., Fabes, R.A., Adams, J.A.  Sleep Disturbances and Correlates of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Psychiatry and Human Development  2006 37 179-191; [Epub ahead of print]
  6. Adams JB, Romdalvik J, Ramanujam V.M.S., Legator MS, Mercury, Lead, and Zinc in Baby Teeth of Children with Autism vs. Controls, J Toxicol Environ Health 2007 70(12):1046-51
  7. Kern JK, Grannemann BD, Trivedi MH, Adams J.B.  Sulfhydryl-reactive metals in autism. J Toxicol Environ Health A., 2007; 70:1-7.
  8. Boris M, Kaiser C, Goldblatt A, Elice MW, Edelson SM, Adams JB, Feinstein DL.  Effect of pioglitazone treatment on behavioral symptoms in autistic children.  Journal of Neuroinflammation 2007, 4:3 (5 January 2007).
  9. Levine KE, Essader AS, Weber FX, Perlmutter JM, Milstein LS, Fernando RA, Levine MA, Collins BJ, Adams JB, Grohse PM.  Determination of iodine in low mass human hair samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.  Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2007 Oct;79(4):401-4. Epub 2007 Aug 25.
  10. Adams JB, Romdalvik J, Levine KE, Hu L-W.  Mercury in First-Cut Baby Hair of Children with Autism vs. Typically-Developing Children.  Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 2008 90:4 739-753.
  11. Geier DA, Kern JK, Garver CR, Adams JB, Audhya T, Nataf R, Geier MR. Biomarkers of environmental toxicity and susceptibility in autism. J Neurol Sci 2009 280 101-108  Epub - 2008 Sep 24
  12. Geier DA, Kern JK, Garver CR, Adams JB, Audhya T, Geier MR.  A Prospective Study of Transsulfuration Biomarkers in Autistic Disorders.  Neurochem Res. 2009 34(2) 386-93.  Epub 2008
  13. Adams JB, Baral M, Geis E, Mitchell J, Ingram J, Hensley A, Zappia I, Newmark S, Gehn E, Rubin RA, Mitchell K, Bradstreet J, El-Dahr J. “The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels,” J Toxicol, 2009;2009:532640. Epub 2009 Aug 26.
  14. Adams JB, Baral M, Geis E, Mitchell J, Ingram J, Hensley A, Zappia I, Newmark S, Gehn E, Rubin RA, Mitchell K, Bradstreet J, El-Dahr J.  Safety and efficacy of oral DMSA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: Part A--medical results.  BMC Clin Parmacol. 2009 Oct 23:9:16
  15. Adams JB, Baral M, Geis E, Mitchell J, Ingram J, Hensley A, Zappia I, Newmark S, Gehn E, Rubin RA, Mitchell K, Bradstreet J, El-Dahr J.  Safety and efficacy of oral DMSA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: part B - behavioral results.  BMC Clin Pharmacol. 2009 Oct 23;9:17.
  16. JK Kern, DA Geier, J.B. Adams, M.R. Geier A Biomarker of Mercury Body-Burden Correlated with Diagnostic Domain Specific Clinical Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Biometals 2010 Jun 9.  
  17. Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, Mehta JA, Grannemann BD, Geier MR.  Toxicity Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Blinded Study of Urinary Porphyrins.  Pediatr Int. 2010 Jul 4. [Epub ahead of print]
  18. Kern JK, Geier DA, Ayzac F, Adams JB, Garver CR, Mehta JA, Geier MR. Toxicity biomarkers among US children in comparison with French children: A prospective blinded study of urinary porphyrins. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 2011 93(2):396-405.
  19. Adams JB, Johansen LJ, Powell LD, Quig D, Rubin RA, Gastrointestinal Flora and Gastrointestinal Status in Children with Autism -- Comparisons to Neurotypical Children and Correlation with Autism Severity, BMC Gastroenterology 2011, 11:22 (16 March 2011).
  20. Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, Troutman MR, Davis G, King PG, Young JL, Geier MR. Autism severity and muscle strength: a correlation analysis. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 5 (2011) 1011-1015.
  21. Frye RE, Sreenivasula S., Adams JB, Traditional and non-traditional treatments for autism spectrum disorder with seizures: an on-line survey, BMC Pediatrics 2011, 11:37.  
  22. Geier DA, Kern JK, Davis G, King PG, Adams JB, Young JL, Geier MR.  A prospective double-blind, randomized clinical trial of levocarnitine to treat autism spectrum disorders. Med Sci Monit 2011 Jun;17(6):PI15-23.
  23. Adams JB, Audhya T, Mcdonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W Nutritional and Metabolic Status of Children with Autism vs. Neurotypical Children, and the Association with Autism Severity, Nutr. Metab (Lond) 2011 Jun 8:8(1):34.
  24. Adams JB, Audhya T, Mcdonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W  Effect of a Vitamin/Mineral Supplement on Children and Adults with Autism, BMC Pediatrics 2011, 11:111 
  25. Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, Garver CR, Audhya T, Geier MR A clinical trial of glutathione supplementation in autism spectrum disorders.  Med Sci Monit 2011 Dec 1;17(12):CR677-682.
  26. Audhya T, Adams JB, Johansen L, Correlation of serotonin levels in CSF, platelets, plasma, and urine, Biochim Biophys Acta 2012 Jun 1 
  27. Frye, R.E., Casanova, M., Brown, G.L., Martin, V., Edelson, S., Lewine, J., Rossignol, D.A., Slattery, J., and Adams, J.B. (2012). A Consensus Statement from the Elias Tembenis Seizure Think Tanks. Autism Science Digest 1, 5-10.
  28. Frustaci A., Neri M., Cesario A., Adams J.B.,  Domenici E., Bernardina B.D., Bonassi S.  Oxidative stress-related biomarkers in  autism: systematic review and meta-analyses, Free Radic Biol Med. 2012 May 15;52(10):2128-41. Epub 2012 Apr 18.
  29. Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, Troutman MR, Davis G, King PG, Geier MR.  Handgrip Strength in Autism Spectrum Disorder as Compared to Controls, J Strength Cond Res. J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Aug; 27(8): 2277-2281
  30. Adams JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W.  Toxicological status of children with autism vs. neurotypical children and the association with autism severity Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 151:171-180.
  31. Kang D-W, Park JG, Ilhan ZE, Wallstrom G, LaBaer J, Adams JB, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Reduced incidence of Prevotella and other fermenters in intestinal microflora of autistic children, PLoS One. 2013 Jul 3;8(7).
  32. Richard Eugene Frye, Daniel Rossignol, Manuel F Casanova, Vicki Martin, Gregory Brown, Stephen M. Edelson, Robert Coben, Jeffrey David Lewine, John C Slattery, Chrystal Lau, Paul Hardy, S Hossein Fatemi, Timothy D. Folsom, Derrick Fraser MacFabe, James Adams.  A review of traditional and novel treatments for seizures in autism spectrum disorder: Findings from a systematic review and expert panel.  Frontiers in Child Health and Human Development, 2013 (1) 3-26
  33. Adams JB (2015) Vitamin/Mineral Supplements for Children and Adults with Autism. Vitam Miner 3: 127. doi:10.4172/2376-1318.1000127 
  34. Frye RE, Slattery J, MacFabe DF, Allen-Vercoe E, Parker W, Rodakis J, Adams JB, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Bolte E, Kahler S, Jennings J, James J, Cerniglia CE, Midtvedt T. Approaches to studying and manipulating the enteric microbiome to improve autism symptoms, Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2015 May 7;26:26878. doi: 10.3402/mehd.v26.26878. eCollection 2015.
  35. Krajmalnik-Brown R, Lozupone C, Kang DW, Adams J.B.  Gut bacteria in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and promise of studying how a complex community influences a complex disease.  Microbial Ecology in Health & Disease 2015, 26: 26914. 
  36. Adams JB (2015) Vitamin/Mineral Supplements for Children and Adults with Autism. Vitam Miner 3: 127.
  37. Frye RE, Casanova MF, Fatemi SH, Folsom TD, Reutiman TJ, Brown GL, Edelson SM, Slattery JC and Adams JB (2016) Neuropathological Mechanisms of Seizures in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front. Neurosci. 10:192. 2016.
  38. Adams J, Howsmon DP, Kruger U, Geis E, Gehn E, et al. (2017) Significant Association of Urinary Toxic Metals and Autism-Related Symptoms—A Nonlinear Statistical Analysis with Cross Validation. PLOS ONE 12(1): e0169526.
  39. Kang DW, Adams JB, Gregory AC, Borody T, Chittick L, Fasano A, Khoruts A, Geis E, Maldonado J, McDonough-Means S, Pollard EL, Roux S, Sadowsky MJ, Lipson KS, Sullivan MB, Caporaso JG, Krajmalnik-Brown R.  Microbiota Transfer Therapy alters gut ecosystem and improves gastrointestinal and autism symptoms: an open-label study.  Microbiome. 2017 Jan 23;5(1):10.
  40. Kang DW, Ilhan ZE, Isern NG, Hoyt DW, Howsmon DP, Shaffer M, Lozupone CA, Hahn J, Adams JB, Krajmalnik-Brown R.  Differences in fecal microbial metabolites and microbiota of children with autism spectrum disorders.  Anaerobe. 2017 Dec 22;49:121-131.
  41. Devon Colman, James B. Adams. Survey of Vocational Experiences of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Recommendations on Improving Their Employment. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 67-78, 2018
  42. Adams JB, Audhya T, Geis E, Gehn E, Fimbres V, Pollard EL, Mitchell J, Ingram J, Hellmers R, Laake D, Matthews JS, Li K, Naviaux JC, Naviaux RK, Adams RL, Coleman DM, Quig DW.  Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder—A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial.  Nutrients. 2018 Mar 17;10(3). pii: E369.
  43. Daniel P Howsmon, Ph.D.; James B Adams, Ph.D.; Uwe Kruger, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Geis, L.P.N.; Eva Gehn; Juergen Hahn. Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Profiles in Children Are Not Predictive of Autism Spectrum Disorder Status: A Case Control Study.  Biomarker Research (2018) 6:12
  44. T. Vargason, U. Kruger, D.L. McGuinness, J.B. Adams, E. Geis, E. Gehn, D. Coleman, and J. Hahn (2018). Investigating Plasma Amino Acids for Differentiating Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Peers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 50, pp. 60-72.
  45. Coleman DM, Adams JB, Anderson A, Frye RE. (2019) Rating of the Effectiveness of 26 Psychiatric and Seizure Medications for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results of a National Survey. J of Child Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
  46. James B. Adams, Thomas J. Borody, Dae-Wook Kang, Alexander Khoruts, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown & Michael J. Sadowsky (2019) Microbiota transplant therapy and autism: lessons for the clinic, Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 
  47. Adams, J.B.; Vargason, T.; Kang, D.-W.; Krajmalnik-Brown, R.; Hahn, J. Multivariate Analysis of Plasma Metabolites in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Before and After Microbiota Transfer Therapy. Processes 2019, 7, 806. 
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