On March 24, 2021, SFARI held an informational session to answer questions about the 2021 Human Cognitive and Behavioral Science request for applications.

The 2021 Human Cognitive and Behavioral Science RFA opened on March 1, 2021. This new, annual, investigator-initiated RFA is specifically dedicated to clinically relevant research of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Grants awarded through this RFA are intended to produce foundational knowledge about the neurobehavioral differences associated with ASD, which will directly inform the development or refinement of tools needed for translational efforts, such as biomarkers and outcome measures. Special emphasis is placed on objective, quantitative measures that may be used in conjunction with standardized clinical measures and genomic information to better triangulate phenotypic and neurobiological variability within and across individuals with ASD.

Members of the SFARI science team, including Pamela Feliciano, LeeAnne Green Snyder, Alice Luo Clayton and Paul Wang held an informational session to answer questions about this new RFA. The presentation slides can be found here. A summary of the questions asked and answers provided by SFARI staff can be found here.

Pamela Feliciano is scientific director of SPARK and a senior scientist at SFARI. She oversees the recruitment and retention of participants in SPARK as well as the research priorities of the program. She also oversees several autism genetics and clinical grants in SFARI’s portfolio, with a particular emphasis on the development of objective, quantitative methods of measuring clinically relevant autism behaviors.

LeeAnne Green Snyder is a clinical research scientist at SFARI. She advises on protocol design, outcome measures and database needs for SFARI’s research cohorts of individuals with autism, including SPARK, the Simons Simplex Collection and Simons Searchlight.

Alice Luo Clayton is a senior scientist at SFARI. Her role involves managing programs related to neural circuits and behavior in animal models and human cohorts. She contributes to the development and availability of rodent models of autism, as well as overseeing preclinical projects.

Paul Wang is deputy director of Clinical Research Associates, LLC. His responsibilities focus on the development of arbaclofen for clinical use in ASD. He also helps support other Simons Foundation research initiatives, especially those with clinical facets.

Questions? Email: [email protected]