Bernie Devlin and Kathryn Roeder will develop statistical methods that help to identify noncoding variants contributing to autism, as part of a linked number of projects within the SSC-ASC Whole-Genome Sequencing Consortium.

The NeuroDev study seeks to expand knowledge of the genetic architecture of etiologically related neurodevelopmental disorders — particularly ASDs, intellectual disability and ADHD — in Africa through large-scale sample collection, analysis and participant follow-up. Over the next four years (2018–2022), Elise Robinson, in collaboration with Charles Newton, Kirsty Donald and Amina Abubakar, will develop the initial NeuroDev collection of genotyping and exome-sequencing data of 1,800 children with neurodevelopmental disorders in South Africa and Kenya, 1,800 ancestry matched child controls and 1,900 parents. All NeuroDev materials and results will be made available as a resource for the scientific community.

The mitochondrial genome encodes genes critical for energy production within the brain. Many lines of evidence suggest that mitochondrial function may be impaired in autism. Neal Sondheimer will evaluate the association between mitochondrial mutations and their interactions with the nuclear genome and the risk for autism.

Chaste will use genomic prediction to assess the relationship between genetic risk for ASD and autistic traits in the general population.