Autism Science Foundation Awards First “Save Our Scientists” Grants to Support Early Career Autism Researchers

New York, NY — March 17, 2026 — The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) today announced five new recipients of its postdoctoral Save Our Scientists (SOS) Grants, a new funding initiative designed to support early-career investigators conducting autism research during a time of growing uncertainty in federal research funding. These awards will support postdoctoral fellows conducting research that spans neuroscience, genetics, employment supports, and mental health for autistic individuals.

“Early career scientists are the future of autism research,” said Dr. Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer of the Autism Science Foundation. “At a time when many promising investigators are facing disruptions in funding, ASF’s Save Our Scientists Grants help ensure that critical research continues and that talented young scientists remain in the field working on solutions for autistic individuals and their families.”

The SOS Grant Program was launched in 2025 in collaboration with postdoctoral researchers and their mentors to address the unique challenges faced by early-career scientists, including disruptions in public funding and the need for bridge funding to sustain ongoing research.

2026 Save Our Scientists Grant Recipients

Theo Vanneau, PhD — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Mentor: Sophie Molholm, PhD
Project: “Tracking Brain Response to Speech in Profound Autism”

Dr. Vanneau will examine how individuals with profound autism respond to speech and other sensory inputs using EEG, a non-invasive method that records brain activity. Because little is known about how minimally verbal individuals with profound autism process sound, this study will measure brain responses to speech and other sensory inputs across subgroups of individuals with profound autism. The findings could help guide interventions and supports tailored to each person’s needs.

Leticia Perez Sisques, PhD — King’s College London
Mentor: Laura C. Andreae, PhD
Project: “Manipulating Gene Expression to Restore Behavioral Function in Autism”

Dr. Perez Sisques will investigate how manipulating gene expression may restore behavioral function in autism. Using a mouse model of CHARGE syndrome, a genetic condition associated with autism, the project will examine the cell types and genes that regulate autism-related behaviors and test gene therapies designed to restore the function of the gene disrupted in CHARGE syndrome. This work may help identify new therapeutic approaches to restore gene expression and reverse behavioral deficits. This project was originally funded through a federal grant, but lost support after funding to foreign institutions was cancelled.

Jo Ann Yon Hernandez, PhD — University of California, Davis
Mentor: Marjorie Solomon, PhD
Project: “Improving the Employment Experience of People with Autism”

This project focuses on improving the employment experience of autistic adults. Researchers will adapt an existing supported employment program, Thinking Skills for Work (TSW), to address challenges autistic adults may face in everyday workplace interactions, such as asking for help, receiving feedback, or resolving misunderstandings. In collaboration with autistic adults, family members, job coaches, and employers, the team will identify the most challenging workplace situations and determine which supports are most helpful. Researchers will then develop practical tools, including step-by-step problem-solving guides and an interactive chatbot that allows users to practice workplace scenarios and receive feedback.

Alexis Brewe, PhD — University of North Carolina
Mentor: Laura Klinger, PhD
Project: “Adapting Mental Health Treatments for Autistic People”

Many autistic people experience co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, but are often treated using methods that were not developed with autism in mind. This project will gather input and data from autistic people and clinicians to develop a practical guide for adapting mental health treatments so they better meet the needs of autistic individuals.

Indra Bishnoi, PhD — Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
Mentor: Evan Bordt, PhD
Project: “Replacing a CHD8 Mouse Model System Lost to Federal Funding Cuts”

Dr. Bishnoi’s research focuses on CHD8, a gene strongly linked to autism that is associated with enlarged brain size and intellectual disability. Federal funding cuts resulted in the loss of several cell lines used to study this gene. This project will recreate the lost model system. Dr. Bishnoi will then use MRI to examine brain volume and count cells in different brain regions, correlating these findings with behavioral changes. The research will help scientists better understand the impact of this gene variant and identify targets for future therapies.

ASF funds a broad range of innovative autism research through grants and fellowships that support scientists at all stages of their careers. These include Undergraduate Summer Research Awards, Post-Undergraduate Research Fellowships, Predoctoral Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships. ASF also funds Profound Autism Pilot Grants to discover the causes of profound autism, develop new treatments, and support the inclusion of individuals with profound autism in research studies. Additionally, the Suzanne Wright Memorial Accelerator Awards provide research supplements designed to accelerate active autism research projects. Learn more about ASF’s funding opportunities:
https://autismsciencefoundation.org/grants-awards-fellowships. 

About the Autism Science Foundation

ASF funds a broad range of innovative autism research through grants and fellowships that support scientists at all stages of their careers. These include Undergraduate Summer Research Awards, Post-Undergraduate Research Fellowships, Predoctoral Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships. ASF also funds Profound Autism Pilot Grants to discover the causes of profound autism, develop new treatments, and support the inclusion of individuals with profound autism in research studies. Additionally, the Suzanne Wright Memorial Accelerator Awards provide research supplements designed to accelerate active autism research projects. Learn more about ASF’s funding opportunities:
https://autismsciencefoundation.org/grants-awards-fellowships. 

The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Its mission is to fund breakthrough research that will improve the lives of people with autism. To learn more about the Autism Science Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.autismsciencefoundation.org.

Media Contact:

C.J. Volpe
Director of Communications
Autism Science Foundation
cvolpe@autismsciencefoundation.org