Autism Science Foundation Adds Two Additional University Sites to the Next Generation Siblings Program
Yale University and Washington University School of Medicine Join Study of Autism Heritability Across Generations
New York, NY — April 22, 2025 — The Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and funding innovative autism research, today announced a significant expansion of its “Next Gen Sibs” Project. Two new research sites — Yale University and Washington University School of Medicine — will join the existing network, which includes Emory University, the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of California at Davis, and the University of Alberta. The expanded initiative will also now follow participating children beyond infancy, tracking developmental progress until autism diagnosis is possible.
The Next Gen Sibs Project was launched in 2021 as an expansion of the Baby Siblings Research Consortium and focuses on studying children whose parents are typically developing siblings of individuals with autism. These children — often referred to as “second-degree relatives” — are three times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis than the general population, yet they typically lack access to expert clinical assessments. This year’s expansion marks two significant milestones: the inclusion of additional geographic regions to improve accessibility for families, and longer-term follow-up assessments for enrolled children.
The Hilibrand Foundation serves as a funding partner for the Next Gen Siblings Project.
“The Next Gen Sibs Project is a powerful example of how ASF works to address the most pressing questions in the autism community,” said Alison Singer, President of ASF. “Families want to understand more about the genetic factors that contribute to autism, particularly how those factors may affect the nieces and nephews of people with autism.”
“Our goal is to make these resources as accessible as possible,” said Alycia Halladay, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at ASF. “Most assessments are also available virtually, so families can participate no matter where they live.”
If you are the sibling of an individual with autism and are pregnant, considering expanding your family, or have a child under 6 months of age, we invite you to participate in this important research. Meetings with trained clinicians are available both in-person and via telehealth.
The project sites are now:
- Northeast U.S.: Yale University – Dr. Kasia Chawarska and Dr. Suzanne Macari
- Midwest U.S.: Washington University School of Medicine – Dr. Natasha Marrus
- Southeast U.S.: Emory University – Dr. Elizabeth Greenfield
- Southwest U.S.: University of California at Los Angeles – Dr. Nicole Rosen
- Northwest U.S.: University of California at Davis – Dr. Sally Ozonoff
- Canada: University of Alberta – Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
This project is based on data from the Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC), which has shown that the rate of autism in siblings of those with a diagnosis is 15x higher than in those with no family history. Together with the results of a recent ASF-funded study, which showed an increased rate of autism in the children of non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals, it became clear that future research examining the heritability of autism should expand into the next generation.
About the Autism Science Foundation
The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides funding to scientists and organizations conducting autism research. ASF also provides information about autism to the general public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism. To learn more about the Autism Science Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.autismsciencefoundation.org.
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