The Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the newest recipients of its Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN). The 75 talented undergraduates will gain hands-on research experience and contribute to neuroscience research.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it intends to fund 14 grants in response to the 2023 Summer Pilot Award request for applications.

Two studies by different research groups — one led by Flora Vaccarino and the other by Juergen Knoblich — used brain organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells of people with autism and showed how transcriptional alterations affecting certain cell types during human brain development could contribute to the early emergence of ASD.

On August 4, 2022, SFARI and Simons Searchlight helped to host two scientific workshops focused on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that are linked to mutations in the CSNK2A1 and SETBP1 genes. Meeting in Baltimore, the workshops were held in conjunction with a family conference that gathered together people with these conditions and their family members.

Clinical Research Associates, L.L.C., an affiliate of the Simons Foundation, has recently launched a randomized controlled trial to test the safety, tolerability and efficacy of arbaclofen in 16p11.2 BP4-BP5 deletion syndrome.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) SFARI Autism Rat Models Consortium awardees announced, (2) 2022 Autism BrainNet Appreciation Award recipients announced, (3) INSYNC-AS inaugural meeting discusses the therapeutic landscape for Angelman syndrome, (4) Highlights of SFARI-funded research, (5) SFARI Supplement to Enhance Equity and Diversity — Request for applications, (6) SPARK Research Match Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity — Request for applications.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it intends to award 11 grants in response to the 2021 Human Cognitive and Behavioral Science request for applications.

Researchers interested in requesting brain tissue from Autism BrainNet can now submit their applications through SFARI Base, SFARI’s clearinghouse for autism and autism-related research data and biospecimens.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it intends to fund five collaborative groups in response to the 2020 SFARI Collaboration on Sex Differences in Autism request for applications.

On April 26 and 29, 2021, SFARI and the Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain hosted a virtual workshop that focused on the use of rats as a model system for autism spectrum disorder. The workshop discussed advantages and limitations of using rat models, evaluated the need for cross-species studies and considered strategies to move the field forward.