
SFARI’s mission is to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by funding innovative research of the highest quality and relevance.

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Funding Opportunities
We solicit applications for SFARI Awards from individuals who will conduct bold, imaginative, rigorous and relevant research in four main research areas: gene discovery, molecular mechanisms, circuits, cognition and behavior, and clinical.
Since its launch in 2006, SFARI has supported over 550 investigators studying autism-related research in the U.S. and abroad. Research projects include studies at the genetic, molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioral levels, in addition to clinical and translational studies.
Research Highlights

Studies by two different research teams — one led by Ethan Greenblatt and the other by Emily Osterweil — both suggest that FXS cells under-synthesize large proteins, findings that suggest a new point of view on a fundamental problem.

Genevieve Konopka and colleagues coupled brain imaging with measures of gene expression to reveal that gene expression patterns in the cortex that typically underlie functional brain activity in neurotypical individuals are affected in people with autism.
Gina Turrigiano and colleagues showed that the phosphorylation state of the autism-associated synaptic scaffold protein Shank3 can bias synapses toward upward or downward homeostatic plasticity.
Event Videos
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SFARI 2022 Bridge to Independence Award RFA: Informational session
January 10, 2022
SFARI hosted an informational session on the 2022 Bridge to Independence Award (BTI) request for applications (RFA). The session provided a brief overview of the BTI program...
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What do we mean by ‘autism risk genes’?
May 21, 2021
David Ledbetter and Joseph Buxbaum discussed whether there are genes for which mutations confer risk specific to autism or whether these genes are really conferring general...
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Small molecules, genes and antisense oligonucleotides: Industry perspectives on treatment development for ASD
May 14, 2021
Federico Bolognani, Stuart Cobb, and Yael Weiss joined a panel to discuss new industry developments on the use of small molecules, gene therapy and antisense oligonucleotides...
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New research results from the Australian Autism Biobank study
May 12, 2021
Jake Gratten and Naomi Wray presented findings from the Australian Autism Biobank study, an initiative to establish an Australian resource of biospecimens, phenotypes and...
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