ASF is Helping the Next Generation of Leading Autism Scientists Understand the Consequences of the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic upended autism research when it took hold last year, and early career researchers were especially impacted. To examine the full extent of the losses, ASF Chief Science Officer Alycia Halladay joined forces with three other leading autism research scientists to investigate this “Lost Generation” of early career researchers. Their findings were recently published in Autism Research. The project revealed that these current and future scientific leaders, especially female researchers who work with families, are in a particularly vulnerable position because of the pandemic. The additional burdens of social distancing could have dire consequences for autism science immediately and down the road. However, the project also identified ways to support these young researchers during this time, to help forge a path forward.