New partnership between the University of Birmingham, University of Warwick and Shionogi seeks to create and test new, more inclusive measurement tools.
People with intellectual disabilities will sit at the heart of a new research partnership between universities and industry that will develop new, more inclusive assessments for a wider spectrum of cognitive abilities.
The collaboration is known as the Behavioural Research in Intellectual Disability Development and Growth Evaluation (BRIDGE) project. BRIDGE brings the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick and global industry leader Shionogi together to develop inclusive and accessible measures of cognitive executive functions specifically for people with intellectual disabilities.
People with intellectual disabilities that co-occur with rare genetic conditions or autism are often excluded from traditional research, heightening inequalities. In the UK alone, over 1.5 million people have an intellectual disability,1 yet 94% of autism studies lack sufficient representation from this group.2 Current cognitive assessments are rarely suitable and accessible for people with a mental age under five years.3 To address this gap, BRIDGE will create and test new measurement tools appropriate to a broader spectrum of cognitive abilities.
Professor Caroline Richards, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions at the University of Birmingham and Principal Investigator of BRIDGE, said: “This partnership is facilitating a significant step toward more inclusive, rigorous and accessible assessments of cognition for people with intellectual disabilities, that can be readily translated into clinical and educational practice.”
This partnership is facilitating a significant step toward more inclusive, rigorous and accessible assessments of cognition for people with intellectual disabilities, that can be readily translated into clinical and educational practice.
In a major step forward for neurodevelopmental research and practice, involvement from people with intellectual disabilities and their families is woven into every part of the project, to ensure that the measures developed will be useful for families, clinicians and academics. The final measurement tools will be available freely to anyone, with the aim of not needing to rely on specific language or cultural abilities. Robust data underpinning the use of these tools will be shared widely with the public as well as researchers and clinicians, to foster a deeper understanding of cognitive assessment and its role in improving care and outcomes for those with intellectual disabilities.
Andrew Cooper, Vice President, Global Head of Epidemiology and Real-World Evidence, at Shionogi & Co Ltd. said: “This collaboration is designed for the long-term, with people with intellectual disabilities at the heart. We share the ambition of Caroline, Rory, Hayley and the team to lead the way in inclusive research that will make a significant difference to people’s quality of life.”
This collaboration is designed for the long-term, with people with intellectual disabilities at the heart. We share the ambition of Caroline, Rory, Hayley and the team to lead the way in inclusive research that will make a significant difference to people’s quality of life.
Shionogi’s investment into the BRIDGE project builds on the research expertise of Professor Caroline Richards (Principal Investigator), Dr Rory Devine, Associate Professor, and University of Warwick’s Dr Hayley Crawford. Dr Crawford and Professor Richards also lead the Cerebra Network , which collaborates on aspects of the BRIDGE project.
The BRIDGE project is also growing research capacity and leadership in this clinically important and often under-resourced area, with six research staff, and three PhD researchers forming part of the project team, alongside opportunities for research assistants and placements for students.
Dr Hayley Crawford, Associate Professor at University of Warwick said: “The BRIDGE project is built on an exciting collaboration of academic experts, industry experts and, crucially, families who are experts by experience. With this blend of perspectives, we can progress research that will truly meet the needs of people with intellectual disability.”
Following a presentation by the BRIDGE team at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, they are now focused on the next phase of the project. This will take an inclusive approach4 to developing a new, brief questionnaire measure of everyday functioning and refining novel, play-based assessments with families and parents to capture the strengths of people with disabilities and enable the use of these assessments at home.
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries. The University of Birmingham collaborates with industry to drive investment into research and innovation that changes how the world works. Find out more: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/collaborate/business-engagement
University of Birmingham Press Office: pressoffice@contacts.bham.ac.uk
About Shionogi & Co. Ltd.
Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a 147-year-old global, research-driven pharmaceutical company headquartered in Osaka, Japan, that is dedicated to bringing benefits to patients based on its corporate philosophy of “supplying the best possible medicine to protect the health and wellbeing of the patients we serve.” The company currently markets products in several therapeutic areas including anti-infectives, pain, CNS disorders, cardiovascular diseases and gastroenterology. Shionogi’s research and development currently target two therapeutic areas: infectious diseases, and pain/CNS disorders. For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd., please visit: https://www.shionogi.com/global/en.
SHIONOGI Website Inquiry Form: https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/contact.html
Shionogi Europe Press Office: pressoffice@shionogi.eu
About the University of Warwick
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.
A note on forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations in light of the information currently available, assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Risks and uncertainties include general domestic and international economic conditions such as general industry and market conditions, and changes of interest rate and currency exchange rate. These risks and uncertainties particularly apply with respect to product-related forward-looking statements. Product risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion and discontinuation of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; claims and concerns about product safety and efficacy; technological advances; adverse outcome of important litigation; domestic and foreign healthcare reforms and changes of laws and regulations. Also for existing products, there are manufacturing and marketing risks, which include, but are not limited to, inability to build production capacity to meet demand, lack of availability of raw materials and entry of competitive products. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
References
1 The Royal Mencap Society. How common is learning disability in the UK? [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Nov 21]. Available from: https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/research-and-statistics/how-common-learning-disability
2 Russell G, Mandy W, Elliott D, White R, Pittwood T, Ford T. Selection bias on intellectual ability in autism research: a cross-sectional review and meta-analysis. Mol Autism. 2019;10:9.
3 Shields RH, Kaat AJ, McKenzie FJ, Shashi V, Hooper SR, Petersen AJ, et al. Validation of the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery in children and adolescents with intellectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020;64(7):567-580.
4 Laverty C, Richards C. Promoting accessible research for children with intellectual disabilities; lessons learnt from adaptations through the COVID-19 pandemic. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2025 Oct 3;1-8. doi:10.1111/jir.70055.
Professor of Neurodevelopmental Conditions
The aim of Professor Richards' research is to reduce negative clinical outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
