The Simons Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division recognizes the need for diverse ideas and perspectives that contribute to the scientific enterprise. To advance that goal, the foundation’s Fellows-to-Faculty Award program supports talented early career scientists and their research vision as they transition into tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. This award is a new iteration of the previously offered Simons Foundation Independence Award.

The Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the newest recipients of its Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN). The 75 talented undergraduates will gain hands-on research experience and contribute to neuroscience research.

On January 25–26, 2024, SFARI welcomed researchers to a workshop to discuss SFARI Gene and other existing databases and other tools focused on different aspects of autism genetics, as well as databases curating autism-relevant datasets that are broader in scope. Speakers highlighted the roles of their resources, how they are curated and maintained, and how they integrate with SFARI Gene or other resources or might do so in the future.

The Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the latest recipients of its prestigious independence awards. The 13 talented early-career scientists will receive support as they transition from mentored training to independent research positions.

SFARI is pleased to announce the release of genetic data for 119 Autism BrainNet brain tissue samples, including whole genome and whole exome data.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it intends to fund 14 grants in response to the 2023 Summer Pilot Award request for applications.

On January 8–9, 2024, SFARI welcomed researchers to its second annual meeting of the SFARI Sex Differences Collaboration (SSDC).

New phenotypic data from Simons Searchlight participants were recently added to SFARI Base. This release includes data from individuals with 94 gene changes and 15 copy number variants known to be connected to autism.

SFARI is pleased to announce that it intends to fund three collaborative projects in response to the 2023 Cross-Species Studies of ASD request for applications.

This issue of the SFARI newsletter includes: (1) Information about SFARI requests for applications in 2024, (2) Announcing the 2023 SFARI Bridge to Independence fellows, (3) Organoids offer new insights into forebrain neuron development in ASD, (4) New research clarifies connection between autism and the microbiome, (5) Simons Foundation Autism and Neuroscience Social at Neuroscience 2023, (6) SFARI Bridge to Independence Award — Request for applications.