Introduction
The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, commonly known as SFARI, is a major scientific research program dedicated to advancing knowledge of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. Launched in 2006, SFARI operates within the Autism and Neuroscience division of the Simons Foundation, a privately funded grant-making organization based in New York City.
SFARI funds innovative autism research, supports early-career scientists, develops large research cohorts, and provides researchers with access to genetic, phenotypic, clinical, and biological resources. Its work focuses primarily on basic and translational science rather than directly providing clinical services to individuals or families.
SFARI’s principal activities include:
- Competitive research grants for autism scientists
- Funding for individual investigators and collaborative research teams
- Early-career fellowships and faculty-transition support
- Large autism cohorts and longitudinal research programs
- Genetic, clinical, behavioral, and phenotypic databases
- Biospecimen and experimental-model repositories
- Research participant recruitment services
- Conferences, workshops, webinars, and scientific meetings
- Open-science tools and data-sharing infrastructure
SFARI supports more than 300 investigators worldwide and maintains an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Since 2003, the Simons Foundation has provided or committed more than $725 million in external research support to more than 700 investigators in the United States and other countries.
History and Background
The ideas that led to SFARI emerged in 2003 when the Simons Foundation convened a roundtable of leading scientists to discuss the state of autism research. The meeting highlighted the need for larger datasets, stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, reliable biological resources, and sustained investment in the basic science of autism.
SFARI was formally launched in 2006 as a scientific initiative within the Simons Foundation. Its first open request for applications was issued in 2007, with the objective of attracting highly qualified scientists to autism research.
From the beginning, SFARI sought to strengthen the research field by funding investigators and building infrastructure that could be shared across institutions. This approach recognized that autism is highly heterogeneous and that meaningful discoveries would require large participant cohorts, standardized data, advanced genetic analysis, and collaboration among scientists.
One of SFARI’s early landmark projects was the Simons Simplex Collection. The initiative created a permanent repository of genetic and phenotypic information from approximately 2,600 families in which one child had an autism diagnosis while the parents and siblings did not. This resource helped researchers investigate genetic changes associated with autism.
SFARI subsequently developed or supported additional research resources, including:
- Simons Searchlight
- SPARK
- Autism Inpatient Collection
- SFARI Gene
- SFARI Base
- Autism BrainNet
- Research Match
- Induced pluripotent stem-cell lines
- Mouse, rat, and zebrafish models
Over time, SFARI expanded its grant portfolio to include investigator-led projects, collaborative consortia, research centers, data analysis, early-career development, conferences, research resources, and family-engaged studies.
Mission and Purpose
SFARI’s mission is to advance the basic science of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. Its work seeks to improve scientific understanding of the biological, genetic, developmental, neural, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with autism.
The initiative aims to:
- Identify genetic and biological factors associated with autism
- Understand how genetic differences influence brain development and behavior
- Investigate the diversity and heterogeneity of autism
- Develop reliable experimental models and research tools
- Create large, well-characterized research cohorts
- Facilitate responsible sharing of research data and biospecimens
- Attract researchers from different disciplines to autism science
- Support collaborative and interdisciplinary research
- Develop the next generation of autism researchers
- Strengthen connections among researchers, families, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders
- Create scientific foundations that may inform future interventions, services, and support
Although SFARI-supported science may eventually contribute to improved diagnostic methods, therapies, services, or support systems, its primary mission is research. It does not generally provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or direct financial assistance to individuals with autism.
Governance and Structure
SFARI is not a separate independent foundation. It is a scientific initiative of the Simons Foundation and is housed within the Foundation’s Autism and Neuroscience division.
The Simons Foundation provides the institutional governance, financial administration, compliance systems, grant-management infrastructure, and strategic oversight for SFARI. The initiative also works closely with other Simons Foundation neuroscience collaborations and informatics programs.
SFARI’s scientific and operational structure includes:
- Executive leadership within the Simons Foundation
- SFARI scientific directors and program staff
- Research and data-resource teams
- Grants and administrative staff
- Scientific Advisory Board members
- Scientific Review Board members
- External peer-review panels
- Project-specific advisory committees
- Researchers and partner institutions
Kelsey Martin serves as executive vice president of Autism and Neuroscience at the Simons Foundation. SFARI’s broader team includes scientists with expertise in genetics, neuroscience, cognition, behavior, clinical research, data science, biological resources, and research administration.
The SFARI Scientific Advisory Board provides strategic scientific advice, while expert review panels assess proposals submitted through competitive requests for applications. Specific research initiatives and cohorts may also have their own scientific or community advisory structures.
SFARI grants are administered through the Simons Foundation or, in some cases, Simons Foundation International. Applications are generally submitted electronically through Simons Award Manager.
Funding and Grants
SFARI awards autism research grants through competitive requests for applications. Funding opportunities vary by year and may support individual investigators, multidisciplinary collaborations, early-career scientists, data analysis, conferences, cohort development, experimental models, and other research priorities.
According to SFARI, its funding portfolio includes:
- Individual investigator grants
- Collaborative research projects
- Early-career fellowships
- Faculty-transition funding
- Data-analysis grants
- Conference and course support
- Research participant recruitment support
- Patient advocacy group conference support
- Institutional research centers
SFARI currently supports research centers at the University of Edinburgh and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, it does not currently accept unsolicited proposals for new institutional centers.
New Ideas Grants
The New Ideas funding mechanism supports innovative, exploratory, and potentially transformative research relevant to autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Projects may receive up to $300,000 per year for a maximum of two years, providing total support of up to $600,000. This amount includes up to 20% in indirect costs.
The program is designed to accommodate both larger two-year projects and smaller or shorter-term studies. Proposed budgets are assessed according to the scope of the research, the work required, and the likelihood that the project will advance SFARI’s mission.
Eligible applicants and key collaborators generally must:
- Hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree
- Have a faculty or equivalent research position
- Be affiliated with an eligible college, university, medical school, hospital, laboratory, or research facility
- Propose research directly relevant to autism or related neurodevelopmental conditions
Researchers with extensive autism experience and investigators entering the field from other disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Data Analysis Grants
SFARI periodically supports projects that analyze existing datasets to answer important questions about autism and neurodevelopment.
Priority may be given to projects using SFARI-supported datasets, such as:
- SPARK
- Simons Searchlight
- Simons Simplex Collection
- Autism Inpatient Collection
- Simons Sleep Project
- Other datasets generated through SFARI-funded grants
For example, the 2025 Data Analysis call offered a maximum budget of $300,000. Funding levels and conditions may differ in future rounds.
Applicants must have permission to use the proposed data when applying. Projects should clearly explain the research question, analytical methods, significance, and relevance to SFARI’s scientific mission.
Fellows-to-Faculty Program
The Fellows-to-Faculty program helps postdoctoral scientists transition into tenure-track or equivalent independent faculty positions.
Selected fellows receive support toward the end of their postdoctoral training and a commitment of $600,000 for a three-year faculty research grant. Participants also join an interdisciplinary scientific community and receive career-development support.
The program is intended for scientists holding a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent qualification who are in mentored research positions and preparing to enter the academic job market.
Undergraduate Research Support
The Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience provides undergraduate students with research experience in laboratories led by SFARI-supported investigators. The program particularly seeks to expand access for students who have had limited opportunities to participate in scientific research.
The program has provided a $2,000 resource stipend to the host laboratory’s institution to support the fellow’s research and professional development. Applicants should check the current call because funding and participation conditions may change.
Conference and Course Support
The Simons Foundation Autism and Neuroscience division provides funding for conferences and courses aligned with its scientific programs. Supported events must generally have an open application or registration process and demonstrate clear relevance to autism, neuroscience, or an associated research priority.
Funding is determined according to the proposed activities and budget justification. Applicants requesting $25,000 or more per year may face additional scrutiny. The Foundation generally does not fund the complete cost of an event and encourages organizers to obtain support from multiple sources.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility depends on the individual funding call. Applicants may include:
- Colleges and universities
- Medical schools
- Hospitals and health research institutions
- Independent laboratories
- Public and private research organizations
- Units of state and local government
- Eligible federal agencies
- Qualified international research institutions
- Patient advocacy groups under selected programs
Individual principal investigators normally apply through an eligible host institution. Applicants must review each request for applications carefully because degree requirements, institutional conditions, geographical restrictions, indirect-cost rules, and project duration vary.
SFARI does not provide funding to institutions in China, including Hong Kong, or to fiscal sponsors, agents, subcontracts, or institutional consultants based there. Other geographical and institutional requirements may apply.
Major Programs and Initiatives
SPARK
SPARK stands for Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge. It is a large autism research initiative that collects genetic, medical, behavioral, and family information from autistic individuals and their relatives.
The resource supports studies examining:
- Genetic factors associated with autism
- Differences in autism presentation
- Developmental and medical history
- Co-occurring health and psychiatric conditions
- Diagnostic timing and accuracy
- Adaptive functioning
- Sex-related differences
- Relationships between genetic variants and observable characteristics
SFARI reports that SPARK phenotypic data are available from more than 435,000 individuals, including over 180,000 autistic participants. Approved researchers can access eligible data through SFARI Base.
Simons Simplex Collection
The Simons Simplex Collection is a foundational SFARI resource containing genetic samples and detailed information from approximately 2,600 families. Each participating family includes one child with autism and unaffected parents and siblings.
The collection has helped researchers study newly occurring genetic variants and identify genes associated with autism.
Simons Searchlight
Simons Searchlight studies rare genetic neurodevelopmental conditions. It collects standardized natural-history information from individuals who share specific genetic variants associated with autism or related conditions.
The program builds partnerships among:
- Individuals and families
- Researchers
- Clinicians
- Patient advocacy organizations
- Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies
Natural-history research helps scientists understand how a condition develops over time, how individuals differ, and which outcomes may be appropriate for future clinical studies.
Autism Inpatient Collection
The Autism Inpatient Collection includes genetic and phenotypic information from children and adolescents admitted to specialized inpatient psychiatric units.
The program was designed to improve representation of autistic individuals who may be minimally verbal, have very low adaptive functioning, experience intellectual disability, or display behaviors requiring intensive support. Such individuals are frequently underrepresented in community-based research.
SFARI Base
SFARI Base is a centralized portal that gives approved researchers access to autism-related data and biospecimens.
Its resources include information from:
- SPARK
- Simons Searchlight
- Simons Simplex Collection
- Autism Inpatient Collection
- Autism BrainNet
- Research Match studies
Researchers must submit a resource request and comply with relevant data-use, ethical, privacy, and institutional requirements.
SFARI Gene
SFARI Gene is an online database containing information about genes associated with autism. It helps scientists evaluate genetic evidence, prioritize research questions, and examine relationships between genes, biological pathways, and neurodevelopmental characteristics.
Autism BrainNet
Autism BrainNet is a collaborative network that collects, stores, and distributes donated post-mortem brain tissue for autism research. Launched in 2014, it supports studies of the genetic, cellular, molecular, and neurological mechanisms associated with autism and related conditions.
Research Match
Research Match allows approved investigators to invite participants from SFARI-supported cohorts into new studies. Eligible cohorts include SPARK, Simons Searchlight, and the Simons Simplex Collection.
Since its launch in 2017, SPARK Research Match has connected more than 66,000 participants with research studies. This service reduces the time and cost required to recruit participants and enables researchers to identify people who meet specific study criteria.
Experimental Models and Biospecimens
SFARI supports the development and distribution of biological materials and experimental models, including:
- Induced pluripotent stem-cell lines
- Genetically modified mouse models
- Rat models of autism-associated genetic variants
- Zebrafish models
- Human brain tissue
- Genetic samples and other biospecimens
These resources help laboratories investigate how autism-associated genetic changes affect cells, neural circuits, brain development, physiology, and behavior.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
SFARI has made a substantial contribution to autism genetics, neuroscience, data sharing, research infrastructure, and scientific workforce development.
Advancing Autism Genetics
SFARI-supported research has helped identify more than 200 highly penetrant genes associated with autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. These findings have demonstrated that autism is not a single biological condition but a heterogeneous group of developmental differences influenced by numerous genetic and biological factors.
This genetic knowledge provides researchers with starting points for studying brain development, cellular function, neural circuits, behavior, and potential biological pathways.
Creating Large Research Cohorts
Projects such as SPARK, the Simons Simplex Collection, Simons Searchlight, and the Autism Inpatient Collection have made it possible to conduct research at a scale that individual laboratories could rarely achieve alone.
These cohorts support studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants and help researchers examine both common patterns and important differences within the autistic population.
Supporting Open Science
SFARI requires or encourages funded researchers to share data and research resources. Through SFARI Base, scientists can access datasets, biospecimens, cell lines, experimental models, and participant-recruitment services.
This infrastructure reduces duplication, improves statistical power, supports independent validation, and enables researchers worldwide to investigate new questions using existing resources.
Improving Representation in Research
The Autism Inpatient Collection increases the representation of autistic people with higher support needs. SPARK includes children and adults across a wide range of backgrounds and characteristics, while Simons Searchlight connects families affected by rare genetic neurodevelopmental conditions.
These initiatives help address gaps created when research cohorts do not adequately reflect the diversity of autistic individuals.
Developing New Researchers
The Fellows-to-Faculty and Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship programs create pathways for researchers at different career stages. These initiatives help bring new expertise, perspectives, and scientific approaches into autism and neuroscience research.
Strengthening Scientific Collaboration
SFARI supports workshops, collaborative projects, scientific consortia, conferences, courses, and shared research centers. Its multidisciplinary model connects geneticists, neuroscientists, clinicians, psychologists, data scientists, molecular biologists, computational researchers, and community partners.
Conclusion
The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative is one of the most influential private funders and research-resource developers in autism science. Since its launch in 2006, SFARI has supported hundreds of investigators, invested substantially in genetics and neuroscience, developed large autism cohorts, and created shared data and biological resources for the global research community.
Its grant programs support innovative research, data analysis, scientific collaboration, conferences, and early-career development. Major initiatives such as SPARK, Simons Searchlight, the Simons Simplex Collection, SFARI Base, SFARI Gene, Research Match, and Autism BrainNet provide essential infrastructure for studying autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
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