The Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP) aims to identify risk factors that contribute to differences in brain development, difficulties in social behaviour and other core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). By understanding how the brain develops, we can get to understand better if something is out of the ordinary and offer proper interventions to individuals with different developmental conditions. Previous research has shown that a lot of people with learning difficulties also have autistic-like symptoms. Nevertheless, current research often does not include individuals who have learning difficulties because of difficulties adapting the testing materials. In order to gain full understanding of how the brain develops through time across a wide range of individuals, it is crucial to include all ages and a range of abilities. Our aim is to include 3 different groups of people; 1) People who have been diagnosed with any condition, co-presenting mild learning difficulties from the ages of 12 to 30, 2) People with ASD aged between 6 and 30, and 3) Typically developing people aged between 6 and 30 years. This will enable us to gain knowledge on brain development which may help develop treatments that help alleviate core symptoms of autism in different patient groups. In the first two phases, LEAP was part of the EU-AIMS project. The third phase, LEAP3, is now launched as part of AIMS-2-TRIALS. The programme's main financial funder is Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), with in-kind contributions from charities, associated partners and industry partners. More information on funding can be found at https://www.aims-2-trials.eu/funding/
