2025-12-04, 6:54:59 a.m.
LUXEMBOURG and BIRMINGHAM, England — December 4, 2025 — Leads & Copy — LuxAI, the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), and the University of Birmingham have launched a large-scale study to explore the use of a social robot–led early development program for young autistic children, delivered through QTrobot.
The longitudinal scientific study will involve 69 families and is expected to conclude by the end of 2026.
The study is jointly funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund and the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy.
Researchers will evaluate QTrobot, LuxAI’s humanoid social robot, as a tool to support autistic children aged 2.5–4.5 years in areas including communication and language, social skills, and learning. QTrobot delivers interactive learning activities through games and guided exercises, adapting to each child’s pace and providing families with structured support tools for home use.
Dr. Manon Gantenbein, Head of the Clinical and Epidemiological Investigation Center at LIH, said this is a landmark study for both early autism research and technology-supported learning. Dr. Gantenbein added that technologies like robots have shown promising results in short-term, small-scale studies, but their long-term effectiveness and usability have never been systematically examined. For the first time, a large-scale, long-term study will rigorously assess the impact of a robot-led program designed to empower both children and their families through home-based support.
Families in the West Midlands, UK, will participate in the study over a 10-month period. Researchers will assess child development and parental self-efficacy to understand how robot-assisted programs can strengthen early developmental outcomes.
Prof Karen Guldberg, Head of the School of Education at the University of Birmingham, noted that access to high-quality early support is still limited for many families across the world. Prof Guldberg added that, by combining research excellence and technology, this study could pave the way for engaging early support for autistic children and their families.
Dr. Aida Nazari, COO of LuxAI, said LuxAI is proud to see QTrobot and its early-years development program at the heart of such pioneering research. Dr. Nazari added that this study represents a crucial step in understanding how robots can deliver consistent, personalized support in the child’s own environment, where they are most comfortable and where families often need additional support. By bringing 69 families through this 10-month journey, the study will gain invaluable insights into real-world impact.
The study is currently recruiting families with autistic children aged 2.5–4.5 years in the West Midlands. Interested families can learn more by emailing Dr. Barbara Sandland and Dr. Rebecca Bartram at qtrobot@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Press Contact:
LuxAI: press@luxai.com | US: +1 332 248 0900 | UK: +44 77 00 17 63 53 | EU: +352 27 87 37 43
University of Birmingham: pressoffice@contacts.bham.ac.uk | +44 (0)121 414 2772
Source: LuxAI
