SFARI is pleased to announce that SPARK has launched its research matching program, through which researchers can apply to recruit the SPARK cohort into new research studies. Researchers can submit an application via SFARI Base.

A SFARI channel now exists on bioRxiv, one of the most used preprint servers for biology. This channel should help readers to find preprints reporting SFARI-funded research findings more quickly as well as encouraging more SFARI investigators to post preprints ahead of publication.

Plans are underway to perform whole-genome sequencing of the entire Simons Simplex Collection (SSC). Genomes from 553 families (2,174 genomes) have been sequenced and are available to approved researchers with no publication embargo restrictions. An additional 619 families (2,476 genomes) are currently being sequenced and are expected to be available in the fall of 2016. A four-month publication embargo will apply to that batch of samples. Sequencing of the entire collection is expected to be completed by late 2017.