SFARI

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) 2017 Bridge to Independence Award request for applications, (2) Application process for recruiting SPARK participants into new research studies is now open, (3) A SFARI channel on bioRxiv, (4) A Conversation with SFARI Bridge to Independence Investigator Sung Han, (5) SFARI-funded publications, (6) Past lecture: Jeremy Veenstra-Vanderweele, “Potholes and progress on the road to translational treatments in autism spectrum disorder”.

Six current and former SFARI Investigators are among the 213 newly elected members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) SPARK's first year: A new paper describes goals and milestones, (2) Simons Variation in Individuals Project (Simons VIP): New data release, (3) SFARI announces the launch of HumanBase, (4) Highlights of SFARI-funded research, (5) Upcoming lecture: Elise Robinson, "The NeuroDev collaboration: Building autism spectrum disorder cohorts of international research value in Kenya and South Africa", (6) Past lecture: Shafali Spurling Jeste: "On the road to precision health: Brain-based biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder", (7) Past lecture: Matthew Siegel, "Arousal, emotion regulation and challenging behaviors: Insights from the Autism Inpatient Collection", (8) Past lecture: Daniel Geschwind, "Autism genetics: Searching for coherence".

SFARI is pleased to announce its 2020 Collaboration on Sex Differences in Autism request for applications. Collaborations are a new funding mechanism that will provide substantive and stable funding support to multidisciplinary teams of investigators tackling critical issues in the autism research field.

Paul Wang has assumed the role of Senior Scientific Director, SFARI Pharmaceutical and Biotech Relations.

Benjamin Philpot shows that seizure susceptibility in an Angelman syndrome mouse model results from the specific loss of UBE3A from GABAergic, but not glutamatergic, neurons.

Benjamin Cheyette finds higher rates of DIXDCI disruptions in individuals with ASD, schizophrenia or bipolar, and DIXDC1 signaling rescue improves mouse ASD-like behaviors.

Fever has benefits beyond its role in fighting infection. According to a prospective study published in 2007 and to many anecdotal reports, fever can improve cognitive function and behavior in individuals with autism.

For individuals with autism, a trip to the clinic — an unfamiliar place with strange people and instruments — can be exceedingly stressful. And as many genetic databases for autism include tens of thousands of participants, it is increasingly challenging for researchers to do in-person assessments for each individual. On 14 February, SFARI hosted a workshop to explore the benefits and pitfalls of using online tools to help collect data from individuals with autism.

Suitable biomarkers are needed to assess treatment outcomes in ASD. Pamela Ventola has developed fMRI biomarkers that allow accurate prediction of intervention success.