On July 5, 2022, SFARI hosted an informational session on the 2022 Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Biological Convergence and Genetic Therapies request for applications (RFA).

The 2022 Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Biological Convergence and Genetic Therapies RFA opened on June 21, 2022. Grants awarded through this RFA are intended to improve our understanding of the molecular and cellular consequences of genetic risk for ASD, and to provide a foundation for the development of new therapies. Special emphasis is placed on the use of scalable methods, especially as applied to genes that are suitable targets for genetic therapies.

On July 5, 2022, SFARI senior scientists Pamela Feliciano, Alan Packer and Julia Sommer hosted an information session about the 2022 Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Biological Convergence and Genetic Therapies RFA for prospective applicants. The session included an overview of the RFA’s goals and an opportunity to ask questions about this funding opportunity.

Slides from the session can be downloaded here.

In addition to reading the RFA announcement and viewing the informational session, interested applicants are encouraged to read “SFARI Scientific Perspectives,” a summary of SFARI’s views on a variety of topics relevant to our grantmaking efforts.

Pamela Feliciano is scientific director of SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research) and a senior scientist at SFARI. She oversees the return of genetic results for participants in SPARK and helps guide the overall research priorities of the program. She also focuses on grants within autism genetics and clinical investigations in SFARI’s portfolio, with a particular emphasis on the development of objective, quantitative methods for measuring clinically relevant autism behaviors.

Alan Packer is a senior scientist at SFARI. His role involves overseeing autism grants in the area of genetics and cell and developmental biology. He also serves as a liaison with the SFARI Gene curation team at MindSpec, helping to lead the development of the site’s Gene Scoring module. He has also participated in the administration of the Simons Simplex Collection exome- and genome-sequencing programs and closely follows efforts to build on these genetic insights in the service of a better understanding of the biology of autism.

Julia Sommer is a senior scientist at SFARI. She mainly focuses on grants of cellular and molecular studies in autism, including projects that make use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). She also manages SFARI’s iPSC resources and helps oversees the administration of SFARI’s Pilot and Research Award applications.

Questions? Email: [email protected]