Get Involved

2000 families, one mission

The Simons Simplex Collection is a bold new initiative to search for the causes of autism. Researchers at eleven sites in North America will collect DNA samples from families with just one child affected by an autism spectrum disorder. This valuable data will be available to the best scientific minds in the world to search for clues that will lead to important breakthroughs. The Simons Foundation, a New York-based philanthropic organization, has committed millions of dollars to the Simons Simplex Collection, and other cutting edge autism research.

A Complicated Challenge, A Focused Response

The wide range of autistic symptoms presents a formidable challenge to researchers looking for risk factors, causes, and treatments. Earlier efforts studied multiplex families, or families with more than one child with autism.

This initiative is different. It is focused on families with just one child with autism, called simplex families, which will provide insight into the most common and unexplained form of autism. This comes at an exciting time in history, in which breakthroughs in gene mapping, advancement of high-tech tools and the latest brain research present a unique opportunity for progress.

Building a Community

Families will be welcomed as part of the local community and the larger team. We hope to follow the progress of patients and their families over time, offering ongoing support as well as access to the latest research results.

Getting Involved

Eligibility Requirements Two thousand families from across North America will join our study group. Families eligible to participate consist of:

• Only one child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), age four or older
• One or more siblings without an ASD, age four or older
• Unaffected biological parents who are willing to participate

Three Research Components

1. Eligible children with an ASD will receive a behavioral assessment
2. All family members will donate blood, a source of DNA
3. A small number of families with no siblings or siblings under the age of four may be eligible to participate in the study

Contact one of our sites across North America.