Resources: Autism BrainNet
A collaborative brain-tissue network facilitating genetic and neuropathological research into autism and available to approved researchers.
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A collaborative brain-tissue network facilitating genetic and neuropathological research into autism and available to approved researchers.
Autism BrainNet is a collaborative network of academic scientific institutions that collects, stores, and distributes donated postmortem brain tissue to facilitate rigorous research into the genetic, molecular, cellular, and neuropathological mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental conditions. Since launch, it has grown into one of the field’s primary sources of postmortem brain tissue for autism research.
The Simons Foundation and Autism Speaks cofounded Autism BrainNet in 2014. The Simons Foundation became the network’s sole funder in 2016, and Autism BrainNet officially became a program of SFARI in 2020. David Amaral, a neuroanatomist and research director at the UC Davis MIND Institute, serves as scientific director.
Autism BrainNet tissue is collected, processed, and stored in a network of regional and international brain-banking sites or nodes, and also includes a non-collecting site that maintains the Autism BrainNet Celloidin Library.
Autism BrainNet also collaborates with the NIH NeuroBioBank and other brain banks, family foundations and research organizations to support coordinated brain banking and research.
The collection includes brain donations from individuals with autism (with or without other related health conditions), individuals with genetic diagnoses associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, individuals with other neurological conditions, and individuals without known psychiatric or neurological conditions. Tissue and data previously collected through the Autism Tissue Program (ATP), formerly a program of Autism Speaks, have also been incorporated into the Autism BrainNet collection. A subset of brain donations have also undergone whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing and genotyping through a partnership with the New York Genome Center, with new genetic data released quarterly.
Specimens can be browsed through the Tissue Catalogue, and full details on the current collection — including donor counts, diagnostic categories, genetic characterization data and the Autism Celloidin Library — are available on the Autism BrainNet Collection page.
Researchers from around the world who study autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions are eligible to request Autism BrainNet brain tissue and associated phenotypic and genomic data. Requests are submitted through SFARI Base. More information on the application process and prerequisites is available here.
For questions about tissue requests, email [email protected]. For general questions about Autism BrainNet, email [email protected]. For immediate help with donations, call 1-877-333-0999 (support is available 24/7).
SFARI Base offers access to the world’s largest collection of autism research data, biospecimens, and participant cohorts.
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