Collaborative Research (NEH)

has launched the Autism Data Science Initiative, a new research effort that will harness large-scale data resources to explore contributors to the causes and rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder.More than $50 million in awards will support 13 projects that use genomic, epigenomic, metabolomic, proteomic, clinical, behavioral, and autism services data, while integrating, aggregating, and analyzing existing data resources to generate targeted new data and validate findings through independent replication hubs, the department said."Our Autism Data Science Initiative will unite powerful datasets in ways never before possible," said NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, in a statement."By bringing together genetics, biology, and environmental exposures, we are opening the door to breakthroughs that will deepen our understanding of autism and improve lives."NIH said examples of funded efforts include studying how prenatal exposures interact with genetic risk in large autism cohorts, how causal inference methods can clarify contributors to rising prevalence, and how adult outcomes such as community participation and mental health can be improved through service innovations.One key feature of ADSI is the use of exposomics, or the comprehensive study of environmental, medical, and lifestyle factors in combination with genetics and biology, the department said.Projects will investigate a wide range of influences, including environmental contaminants such as pesticides and air pollutants, maternal nutrition and diet, perinatal complications, psychosocial stress, and immune responses during pregnancy and early development, the department said.The autism community will work in partnership with the ADSI research team to help shape the direction of the research and ensure that the perspectives of autistic individuals, caregivers, and service providers inform the initiative, said NIH.See the list of awards or learn more at the ADSI website.