Overview
Funding autism research is at the core of our mission.
We prioritize funding clever early-career investigators with cutting-edge ideas who need seed money to get their research off the ground. ASF pairs these researchers with established scientists who provide mentorship and training. The government and other funders have decreased funding for training grants, but we are committed to helping early-career scientists gather the initial data they need to attract major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all while encouraging the best and brightest researchers to dedicate their careers to autism.
Current Grantees
Profound Autism Two-Year Research Grant
Carly Moser, Ph.D. and Julie Lounds Taylor, Ph.D. | Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Developing a Tool to Identify Profound Autism in Adults
Following the publication of the Lancet definition of profound autism and subsequent refinement using a Delphi process with clinicians and stakeholders, there remains a need for practical tools that can quickly identify individuals with profound autism when full standardized assessments are unavailable or insufficient. To address this gap, a brief screener was developed in 2024. This project will evaluate the validity and performance of the screener in a large autism sample, including individuals who meet the Delphi-based research definition of profound autism, and will assess how well it captures differences in support needs across the autism spectrum. Areas of focus include community participation, service use, unmet service needs, and disability-related functioning. The study will also refine the screener using feedback from stakeholders, including autistic adults, to improve clarity, accuracy, and usability. This work is essential for improving early and accessible identification of profound autism and for better understanding and responding to the diverse support needs of autistic individuals, ultimately supporting more equitable access to services and community inclusion.
This project is supported in part by the Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism (FECA).
Profound Autism Pilot Grants
Cheryl Klaiman, Ph.D. | Emory University
Predicting Profound Autism in Preschoolers
Current criteria for profound autism require a child to be at least 8 years old because language and cognitive abilities can change considerably during early childhood. However, this age threshold may delay recognition of children with profound autism and limit opportunities for earlier intervention and support. This study will use an existing cohort of children who received comprehensive clinical assessments before school entry and compare the early developmental characteristics of those who later met criteria for profound autism with those who did not. Dr. Klaiman will examine early language and communication skills, developmental milestones, severe or dangerous behaviors, and contextual factors such as access to early intervention and socioeconomic circumstances. By identifying the early features and developmental pathways of profound autism, this research will inform earlier identification, guide evidence-based interventions and policies, and ultimately improve outcomes and quality of life for children with profound autism and their families.
This project is supported in part by Charles Raymond Shaw and Fran Pennock Shaw.
Alisa Mo, Ph.D. | Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Investigating the Role of Somatic Mutations in the Biology of Profound Autism
As we age, brain cells naturally acquire small changes in their DNA, known as somatic mutations, which occur after conception and are not present in every cell. These changes may be influenced by environmental exposures and appear to accumulate more rapidly in some brain disorders, particularly those involving inflammation. Early research suggests that people with profound autism may have more somatic mutations in their brains than those with non-profound autism. Utilizing brain tissue from the Autism BrainNet program, Dr. Mo will determine whether somatic mutations are associated with profound autism and will investigate how environmental exposures may contribute to these changes. The findings will improve our understanding of the biological differences underlying profound autism and may identify new targets for therapies focused on DNA damage, DNA repair, or inflammation.
This project is supported in part by the Urbieta Family Foundation.
Profound Autism Predoctoral Fellowships
Sophie Cramer-Benjamin | University of South Carolina
Mentor: Caitlin M. Hudac, Ph.D.
Building Better Data Resources to Advance Research in Profound Autism
Because individuals with profound autism are often underrepresented in research, much of what is currently known comes from separate studies that use different assessment tools and contain incomplete or inconsistent information. These differences make it difficult to combine findings and identify meaningful patterns. This project will develop new methods to organize and harmonize existing clinical, survey, medical, and brain (EEG) data from five studies of individuals with SCN2A-related autism, a condition commonly associated with profound autism. Rather than collecting new data from families, the study will maximize the value of existing information to better characterize profound autism and explore whether there are distinct patterns of brain activity associated with the condition. The tools, methods, and resources developed through this project will be shared with other researchers and patient advocacy groups (PAGs), providing a framework for combining data across studies and accelerating future discoveries in profound autism.
Zeal Jinwala | Washington University School of Medicine
Mentor: Robert Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Predicting Which Children with Profound Autism Are Likely to Experience Dangerous Behaviors
Severe, intense, and dangerous behaviors (SIDBs), including aggression, self-injury, pica, and wandering, are common in many individuals with profound autism, yet the factors that contribute to these behaviors remain poorly understood. This study will use data from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) to examine how common genetic variation and environmental exposures influence the development of SIDBs across childhood and adolescence. By investigating both genetic risk and environmental factors, the project aims to identify patterns that predict which children are most likely to develop persistent or severe behaviors over time. The findings will improve understanding of the causes of SIDBs and support the development of more personalized screening, earlier interventions, and targeted supports that improve quality of life and promote greater independence for individuals with autism and their families.
Basil Obodo | Purdue University
Mentor: Matthew Tegtmeyer, Ph.D.
Defining the Functional Impact of Chromosome 8p Variants in Profound Autism
Genetic changes in a region of chromosome 8p are strongly associated with profound autism, but it is not yet known which of the many genes in this region contribute most to the condition or how they affect brain development. This study will use advanced genetic and cellular technologies to identify the genes on chromosome 8p that play the greatest role in profound autism and determine how they alter the structure and function of brain cells. By studying cells from individuals who have undergone detailed clinical and behavioral assessments, the researchers will link genetic findings to real-world outcomes. The results will improve understanding of the biology of profound autism, identify potential biomarkers to support diagnosis and treatment, and lay the foundation for more personalized interventions.
Vani Taluja | University of California, San Diego
Mentor: Eric Courchesne, Ph.D.
Predicting Profound Autism from Brain Organoids: Developmental Follow-Up at Age 8
Children with profound autism often have larger brain size than their typically developing peers, suggesting that differences in brain development begin before birth. This study will use patient-derived cortical organoids (small, brain-like structures grown in a dish from patient cells) to investigate how early brain development differs in individuals with profound autism, non-profound autism, and typical development. Researchers will reassess children whose organoids were created years earlier and who have now reached 8 years of age, when a diagnosis of profound autism is more stable. This follow-up will allow the researchers to determine whether the early organoid findings accurately predict which children later meet the criteria for profound autism. By linking early brain biology with later developmental outcomes, this research will improve our understanding of profound autism and help lay the foundation for earlier identification and more targeted, biologically informed treatments.
This project is supported in part by the family of Seth Jacobs.
Save Our Scientists (SOS) Postdoctoral Grants
Indra Bishnoi, Ph.D. | Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
Mentor: Evan Bordt, Ph.D.
Replacing a CHD8 Mouse Model System Lost to Federal Funding Cuts
Mutation of the CHD8 gene is strongly linked to autism and results in an enlarged brain and intellectual disability, along with ASD. Creating model systems of this gene variation are essential to better targeting therapeutics and understanding particular brain cells or systems that are crucial for the autism phenotype. Federal funding cuts resulted in the loss of several cell lines. In this project, funds will be restored to re-create the lost model system. Researchers will then use MRI to look at brain volume and count cells in different brain regions to correlate it to behavioral changes. This project will help researchers understand the impact of this gene variant, identify targets for interventions and build a system that can be used to develop new therapies for both CHD8-related autism and other forms as well.
Alexis Brewe, Ph.D. | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Mentor: Laura Klinger, Ph.D.
Adapting Mental Health Treatments for Autistic People
Autistic people often experience debilitating co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, but are treated using methods that were not developed for those with autism. Often clinicians who adapt mental health therapies for people with autism do so in the absence of any actual experience with autistic people. This project will collect input and data from autistic people and clinicians with the goal of developing a practical guide for appropriate adaptations of mental health interventions.
Leticia Perez Sisquez, Ph.D. | King’s College London
Mentor: Laura C Andreae, Ph.D.
Manipulating Gene Expression to Restore Behavioral Function in Autism
Many genes have been linked to autism, but it remains unclear how those different genes lead to similar alterations in social interaction, communication, and behavior. One theory suggests that autism may involve an imbalance in brain activity, with too much or too little activation altering the expression of different autism related behaviors. This project is focused on CHARGE syndrome, a genetic condition associated with autism. Using a mouse model, researchers will examine different cell types and genes that regulate autism-related behaviors and will use gene therapies to restore function of the gene that is disrupted in CHARGE syndrome. This will help support the identification of new therapeutics to restore genetic expression and reverse behavioral deficits. This project was originally funded by NIH through a subaward, but funds were lost when support to all foreign institutions was cancelled.
Theo Vanneau, Ph.D. | Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Mentor: Sophie Molholm, Ph.D.
Tracking Brain Response to Speech in Profound Autism
Approximately 26% of individuals with autism are considered profound, which means they have intellectual disability (IQ<50) and are either nonverbal or minimally verbal. Little is known about how the brain works in this group of people, especially how those who are minimally verbal respond to sounds. This project will use EEG (a non-invasive way to record brain activity) speech and other sensory inputs to look at brain response to sound in different autism subgroups of those with profound autism. The results can help guide interventions and supports that are appropriate to each person’s needs.
Jo Ann Yon Hernandez, Ph.D. | University of California, Davis
Mentor: Marjorie Solomon, Ph.D.
Improving the Employment Experience of People with Autism
Many autistic adults want to work but have trouble finding and keeping jobs. Many struggle to navigate everyday social situations in the workplace, such as asking for help, receiving feedback, or resolving misunderstandings. This project adapts an existing program called Thinking Skills for Work (TSW) to the specific needs and challenges of autistic adults in supported employment. In collaboration with autistic adults, family members, job coaches, and employers, researchers will identify the most challenging problems and determine which supports are most helpful. Researchers will then develop a set of easy-to-use tools including clear, step-by-step problem-solving guides and an interactive chatbot that lets people practice common workplace scenarios and get quick feedback. This project will help develop practical, accessible resources for autistic adults to help them better handle social situations, maintain employment, and increase confidence in the workplace.
Undergraduate Summer Research Grants
Ines Choi | Yale University
Mentor: Flora Vaccarino, M.D.
Determining the cellular mechanisms of macrocephaly in ASD
Some individuals with autism show an early and immense enlargement of the brain, called “macrocephaly.” This is a cause of seizures and developmental delays, but the mechanism of how this happens is not fully understood. This study will analyze organoids generated from skin cells of individuals with macrocephaly to study genes expressed in cells called “radial glia,” which control the balance of new neurons in the brain. The findings will help neuroscientists understand the regulation of cell creation and proliferation, which ultimately will help understand why macrocephaly is seen in autism and how it can be remedied.
Aidan Gor | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Mentor: Xuyu Qian, Ph.D.
Mapping cortical disorganization in the autism brain
A prevailing theory of autism is that brain cells in a part of the brain called the cortex are disorganized, and cells are connected to one another abnormally. To examine the core mechanism behind this process, this project will examine how individual cells become misplaced, examining many different genes at once within those cells. This will be done in different areas of a layer of the brain called the cortex, in areas that are involved in autism features. This research will provide a better understanding of why brain cells are not properly connected, which is important for developing therapeutics.
Beatrice Hetke | The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Mentor: Steve Scherer, Ph.D.
Investigating the role of PTCHD1-AS in autism using a gene editing approach
Typically, genetic researchers have focused on genetic material that codes for proteins, but recently, more interest has developed around “noncoding” genetic material. This project will use gene editing techniques to examine how a non-coding gene called PTCHD1-AS influences the expression of the autism risk gene DDX53, which has been recently linked to autism. This gene is located on the X chromosome and may help explain the gender bias in diagnosis. If successful, this will lead to novel therapeutic options that will be beneficial for those with autism.
Sol Park | University of Maryland
Mentor: Veronica Kang, Ph.D.
Creating a culturally sensitive autism tool to help Korean-American parents find resources
Many evidence-based autism interventions were developed in Western contexts and may not fully address the linguistic and cultural needs of underserved immigrant families. This project will examine whether embedding artificial intelligence technology into the Korean Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules program (K-AFIRM) helps families to better access services. Developing more culturally appropriate supports for families will expand access to care for a more diverse community.
Sonia Tran | University of California, Los Angeles
Mentor: Rujuta Wilson, M.D.
Expanding the use of early motor markers in the diagnosis of ASD
Before features of autism emerge in a toddler, motor delays may be seen, suggesting that they may be predictors of later outcomes. This study will use analysis of home videos to identify subtle changes in postures, leg movements, and movement patterns in infant siblings who have a high probability of an autism diagnosis. This method can offer a more inclusive pathway to earlier autism detection that could help narrow the diagnosis and the services gap in underserved communities.