We're delighted to share that the patient and public involvement work from 'ChAAMPS' (Childhood Anxiety in Autism Managed by Parents Study) that underpinned the STAR-CAT study has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Made With Patients Awards, powered by Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD)! 🎉
Led by the NIHR's 'Mental Health Across the Lifecourse' theme lead Cathy Creswell (Professor of Developmental Clinical Psychology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology), with Una Rennard as patient and public co-applicant on both ChAAMPS and STAR-CAT, this recognition celebrates the meaningful co-production approach that shaped the development of an anxiety intervention for autistic children and their families.
This important patient and public involvement work was carried out as part of 'ChAAMPS' that brought together researchers, autistic adults, parents of autistic children, and clinicians to adapt the "Helping your child with fears and worries" programme for autistic children.
Historically, autistic voices have been left out of intervention development, often resulting in approaches that aren't accepted or are even viewed as harmful by the autistic community. That's why genuine co-production was integral to this work from the very beginning.
The team understood that to create something truly helpful, all stakeholders needed representation with every viewpoint given equal weight. Together, they aimed to develop a programme that aligned with current views and needs in the autistic community whilst maintaining evidence-based practice.
This award recognises:
✨ Meaningful collaboration with autistic children and families
🎙 Voices being heard and genuinely shaping research
🤝 Equal partnership across all stakeholder groups
💡 Co-production that puts the community at the heart of development
📍 Award winners will be announced at the Made With Patients Awards Ceremony during the Patient Engagement Open Forum 2025 in Italy.
📅 Watch live on 11 June: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBsjQpHP
This recognition belongs to every autistic person and family member who shared their expertise and helped shape this vital research.
More information on STAR-CAT here: https://lnkd.in/dVuRK9J5
Cathy Creswell's ChAAMPS Study selected as a finalist for the 2025 Made With Patients Awards
3 June 2025
This recognition celebrates the meaningful co-production approach that shaped the development of an anxiety intervention for autistic children and their families.
