Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

SFARI is the Simons Foundation's autism research program, advancing the basic science of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders through funding, collaboration, and open science.

Microscopic image of brain tissue featuring a curved band of magenta cell bodies surrounded by a dense, intricate network of bright green and blue fluorescent filaments.
Thomas Deerinck, NCMIR / Science Photo Library
SFARI currently supports over 300 investigators worldwide through a variety of funding mechanisms, including individual investigator grants, collaborative grants and early career awards.

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Explore

SFARI currently supports over 300 investigators worldwide through a variety of funding mechanisms, including individual investigator grants, collaborative grants and early career awards.

For Researchers

Join a Research Study

Autism Cohorts

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SPARK

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Simons Searchlight

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Simons Simplex Collection

Illustration for AIC data release announcement.

Autism Inpatient Collection

Neuroscience Collaborations

Simons Foundation collaborations that bring scientists together to advance our understanding of brain function.

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Global Brain

Simons Collaboration
Fluorescent microscopy image of brain tissue showing blue, green, and red stained neural cells and fibers, with dense cell clusters and branching structures against a dark background.

Plasticity and the Aging Brain

Simons Collaboration
Fluorescent microscopy image of mouse brain tissue, showing layers of cells in green and purple, highlighting neural structures and cell distribution.

Ecological Neuroscience

Simons Collaboration

Research Highlights

SFARI spotlight image.

Simons Foundation Announces 2026–2027 Class of SURFiN Fellows

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Applications Open for 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program

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Former SFARI Investigator Karl Deisseroth Wins 2026 Nobel Prize

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Funding Awarded for 16 Courses and Conferences in Autism and Neuroscience

Spectrum

Spectrum is a destination for the latest news and analysis about autism research.

Read Spectrum
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