SFARI

SFARI today announced the launch of SPARK, an online research initiative designed to become the largest autism study ever undertaken in the United States. SPARK will collect information and DNA for genetic analysis from 50,000 individuals with autism — and their families — to advance our understanding of the condition’s causes and accelerate the development of new treatments and supports.

Kevin Bender and Stephan Sanders show that ASD-associated SCN2A variants lead to impaired Na_V1.2 channel activity and reduced neuronal excitability.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it has awarded 13 grants in response to the Explorer Awards request for applications this year.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) SFARI Winter 2020 Pilot awardees, (2) Note to SFARI Investigators regarding COVID-19 epidemic, (3) SFARI 2019 Director awards, (4) Reminder: Limitations on using SFARI Simons Collection data sets and/or biospecimens, (5) SFARI meeting report: DYRK1A family meeting supports parents and scientists alike, (6) Conversation with SFARI Investigator Karen Parker, (7) 2020 SFARI Collaboration on Sex Differences in Autism — Request for applications, (8) Summer 2020 Pilot Award – Request for applications, (9) Highlights of SFARI-funded research.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) Zebrafish lines added to SFARI resources, (2) 2019 Novel Outcome Measures in Autism Spectrum Disorder awardees, (3) Transition in SFARI directorship, (4) A joint variant call-set for all Simons Simplex Collection whole-genome sequences, (5) SFARI Investigators elected to the National Academy of Medicine, (6) SFARI blog: Paul Wang, “The need for objective outcome measures to advance intervention research in autism”, (7) SFARI blog: Wendy Chung and John Spiro, “Simons Searchlight: Rebranding and expanding the program”, (8) SFARI spring 2019 science meeting report, (9) Highlights of SFARI-funded research, (10) 2020 Bridge to Independence Award – Request for applications, (11) Upcoming lecture: Jason Lerch, “Autism, autisms or neurodevelopmental disorders?”

SFARI is pleased to announce that it has selected six finalists in response to the 2016 Bridge to Independence Award request for applications. This awards program is intended to invest in the next generation of top autism investigators by identifying talented early-career scientists and facilitating their transition to an independent research career.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it has awarded five grants in response to the Functional Screen of Autism-Associated Variants request for applications. These grants will support the development of medium- and high-throughput screens to test the functional effects of missense variants identified in the Simons Simplex Collection and other autism cohorts.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it has awarded four grants in response to the Novel Outcome Measures for ASD Clinical Trials request for applications. These grants will support research that aims to develop and validate objective measures for use in clinical trials targeting core symptoms of ASD and disruptive behavioral symptoms commonly reported in individuals with ASD.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) SFARI 2016 Pilot and Research awardees announced, (2) SPARK Clinical Site Network - Request for applications, (3) SFARI Explorer Awards - Request for applications, (4) Highlights of SFARI-funded research, (5) Upcoming lecture: Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, “Potholes and progress on the road to translational treatments in autism spectrum disorder”.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) SPARK update, (2) SFARI Social at Neuroscience 2016, (3) Presentations by SFARI Investigators at Neuroscience 2016, (4) 2017 Pilot and Research Awards - Request for applications, (5) Highlights of SFARI-funded research, (6) Upcoming lecture: Beth Stevens, “How immune cells help wire the brain: Implications for autism and psychiatric illness”.