Simons Simplex Collection Recruits 1,000 Families

May 7, 2009 — The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) has recruited more than 1,000 families into its simplex collection, marking a milestone in the effort to collect DNA samples and phenotypic data from a total of 2,000 families.

This month, the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) is releasing to researchers a third set of genetic samples and data. The SSC is a core project and resource of SFARI. The primary goal of the SSC is to establish a repository of genetic samples and phenotypic data that can aid in the effort to shed light on the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of autism and autism-related disorders. Data from the collection are released on a quarterly schedule.  

Each simplex family includes one child on the autism spectrum, whereas both parents and other siblings are unaffected. The SSC’s phenotypic characterization is unique in its rigor and uniformity to maximize genotypic and phenotypic correlations.  

The SSC is a collaboration of the Simons Foundation with 13 university-affiliated research clinics across the United States and Canada, under the guidance of the University of Michigan Autism & Communication Disorders Center. For more information about the collection, visit the Simons Simplex Collection or email request@ sfari.org.

How to Apply:

Samples are available to researchers worldwide. To obtain samples, principal investigators should follow instructions on how to access SFARI Base, available at sfari.org/sfari-base. SFARI Base is a central database of clinical and genetic information about families affected with autism. Applications will be reviewed by the Foundation.