• Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
    • Participate
      • Toys R Us Canada Play packs
      • World Autism Month
        • Meet Ileana
        • Meet Lindsay
        • Meet Mackenna
        • Meet Daud
        • Meet Griffin
        • Meet Dr. Catherine G.
        • Meet Wanda Deschamps
        • Meet Jackie McMillan
        • Meet Steven Atme
        • Meet Jack Baranoff
        • Meet Olivier St-Amour
      • Autism Speaks Canada Walk
        • marchons
        • Current and Past Ambassadors
      • Autism Speaks Canada bubly Smile Day
      • Autism Speaks Canada Virtual Dog Walk & Auction
      • Game On with Autism Speaks Canada
      • Giving Tuesday
      • Facebook Fundraisers
      • Fundraise Your Way
      • Team Up!
      • One-Time Gifts
      • Monthly Giving
      • Honour Someone Special
      • Support an Event Participant
      • Birthdays with Echoage
      • Estate and Tax Smart Giving
      • Donate a Car
    • Become a Partner
      • Meet Our Partners
        • Gifted Canada
        • Vancouver Foundation
        • McConnell Foundation
        • Azrieli Foundation
        • Scentsy Canada
        • Samsung Canada
        • Randstad
        • Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
        • PepsiCo
        • dentalcorp
        • Cadillac Fairview
        • Cherry Hill
        • ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
        • Equitable Life of Canada
        • KRG
        • Cineplex
        • Kernels
        • NFP
        • Bank of Montreal
        • A Buyer's Choice
        • Echoage
        • Donate a Car
        • Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
        • Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
        • Nutrience
      • Cash and In-Kind Donations
      • Cause Related Marketing
      • Corporate Teams
      • Event Hosting
      • Matching Gifts
      • Sponsorship
      • Corporate Volunteering
      • Workplace Giving
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Stories
    • Merchandise
  • Science, Services & Supports
    • Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Results
    • COVID-19 Information and Resources by our Autism Response Team
      • Families & Caregivers Looking for Children Resources
      • Adults on the Spectrum Looking for Resources
      • Virtual Events for Everyone
      • Other Useful Links for Everyone
      • Surveys
    • Science
      • Science News
      • Grant Search
      • Apply for Grants or Fellowships
      • MSSNG
      • Autism Treatment Network
        • ATN@Work
      • Participate In Research
        • Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Developmental Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
        • Caring for the Caregiver
        • Kids Brain Health Network
        • Family Participation in Research
        • It Takes Brains
        • Interactive Autism Network
        • Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
        • University of Toronto
        • York University
      • Science Blogs
      • Science Digest
        • Spring 2018
    • Family Services
      • Family Services Community Grants
        • FSCG Grant Review Volunteers
      • Family Services Special Targeted Initiatives Grants
        • Integrated Services for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ISAND)
        • Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN)
      • Family Services Partnerships
        • Family Services Community Grants
        • Tablet Program
        • Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Sensory Friendly Santa – Enjoy a Virtual Visit with Santa!
      • Worktopia
    • Resources
      • Apps
      • Technology Central
      • Going Out to Eat
      • Health & Wellness
      • Bullying
      • Wandering
      • Templates for Personalized Teaching Stories
      • Community Connections
      • My Job Chart
      • Resource Library
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Accessing Government Services
      • Your Religious Community
    • ASC Connect
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
    • News
      • News
        • Autism Speaks Canada joins disability groups calling for priority access to COVID vaccine for people with autism
        • Autism Speaks Canada's statement about the Alek Minassian case and its misrepresentation of autism
        • ASC, CASDA, and MacART come together to present the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey Report
        • SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
        • Toys R Us Canada in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada is proud to launch discounted play packs
        • Olivier, Our Dog Walk Ambassador Is in the News
        • Covid-19, We Are in This Together
        • Advocates and researchers discuss solutions to reduce autism health care disparities
        • Justin Trudeau Announces Endorsement for Development of a National Autism Strategy
        • Join Us in Creating a Brighter Life on the Spectrum
        • Media Advisory: Trudeau Is Only Major Party Leader Not Committed To A National Autism Strategy
        • Large family-based study finds 80 percent of autism risk is from inherited genes
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with MKM group and Shattered Dreams Esports
        • Autism Speaks awards more than $4.7 million for autism research
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with bubly sparkling water beverage
        • Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
        • Senator Munson's Visit to McMaster May 21, 2019
        • Community Connections Inspire Samsung Canada and Autism Speaks Canada
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Waterloo this Sunday
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Toronto
        • Autism Speaks' MSSNG project reaches 10,000-genome milestone
        • The Canada Council for the Arts Reveals the 2019 Killam Program Winners
        • Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada
        • Response to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
        • DNAstack and Autism Speaks® Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Scientific Discovery on One of the World's Largest Autism Genome Databases
        • Autism Speaks launches $1.5 million funding opportunity for treatment studies
        • Whole genome sequencing reveals new type of genetic influence on autism
        • Understanding the 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report
        • Autism Speaks releases new strategic plan for science
        • World's largest autism genome databank adds more than 2,000 sequences
        • Support Rooted in Desire to Improve Lives
        • Samsung Canada, Silken Laumann and Autism Speaks Canada Invite Canadians to Learn the Love Spectrum
        • Your ATN@Work: Treating anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Your ATN@Work: Recognizing anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Expanding Service Options for Children and Youth with Autism
        • Tracing autism's trajectories could help explain its diversity
        • Gathering MSSNG Insights on Autism
        • Thomas Frazier to join Autism Speaks as Chief Science Officer
        • Study Aims to Crack Autism Code
        • Ontario Ombudsman has released the report, Nowhere to Turn
        • The Autism World: Choosing In
        • The Government of Canada wants your input as they develop accessibility legislation
        • The University of Windsor is looking for fathers across Canada
        • Autism Speaks MSSNG study expands understanding of autism's complex genetics.
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada Partner With Organizations Across Canada to Improve Employment Futures for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Ontario Providing More Supports For Children With Autism
        • Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P researchers present studies at IMFAR
        • More than 5,000 whole genome sequences now available for research into autism subtypes and personalized treatments
        • Spokesperson for the Minister answers FAQ's regarding Ontario Autism Program
        • Giving children roots and wings: the struggle to understand autism.
        • Information for families about changes to autism services for children & youth
        • Ontario Budget Announcement
        • Ontario government announces new Ontario Autism Program with investment of $333 million over the next five years
        • 'Aging Out': What happens when children with ASD get older?
        • PBS NewsHour Looks at MSSNG Genome Project
        • New Canada-U.S. Partnership Paves the Way for International Collaborations in Autism Research
        • Autism Speaks Launches MSSNG Portal for Open-Access Genomics Research
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • Kinetic Sand Teams Up with Autism Speaks to Raise Awareness
        • Learning to better understand autism spectrum disorder
        • 2014 Family Services Community Grants Announcement
        • Cineplex and Autism Speaks to offer Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Diversity in Developmental Trajectories in Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Largest genome sequencing study finds surprises: siblings' autism may have different genetic causes
COVID-19 Information and Resources
  • EN
    • FR
  • A A
  • Accessibility
  • Donate Now
 
Autism Speaks EN Autism Speaks EN
  • Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
  • Science, Services & Supports
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. News, Media Request & Contact Us
  3. News
  4. News
  5. Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
  • News
    • Autism Speaks Canada joins disability groups calling for priority access to COVID vaccine for people with autism
    • Autism Speaks Canada's statement about the Alek Minassian case and its misrepresentation of autism
    • ASC, CASDA, and MacART come together to present the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey Report
    • SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
    • Toys R Us Canada in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada is proud to launch discounted play packs
    • Olivier, Our Dog Walk Ambassador Is in the News
    • Covid-19, We Are in This Together
    • Advocates and researchers discuss solutions to reduce autism health care disparities
    • Justin Trudeau Announces Endorsement for Development of a National Autism Strategy
    • Join Us in Creating a Brighter Life on the Spectrum
    • Media Advisory: Trudeau Is Only Major Party Leader Not Committed To A National Autism Strategy
    • Large family-based study finds 80 percent of autism risk is from inherited genes
    • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with MKM group and Shattered Dreams Esports
    • Autism Speaks awards more than $4.7 million for autism research
    • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with bubly sparkling water beverage
    • Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
    • Senator Munson's Visit to McMaster May 21, 2019
    • Community Connections Inspire Samsung Canada and Autism Speaks Canada
    • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Waterloo this Sunday
    • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Toronto
    • Autism Speaks' MSSNG project reaches 10,000-genome milestone
    • The Canada Council for the Arts Reveals the 2019 Killam Program Winners
    • Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada
    • Response to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
    • DNAstack and Autism Speaks® Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Scientific Discovery on One of the World's Largest Autism Genome Databases
    • Autism Speaks launches $1.5 million funding opportunity for treatment studies
    • Whole genome sequencing reveals new type of genetic influence on autism
    • Understanding the 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report
    • Autism Speaks releases new strategic plan for science
    • World's largest autism genome databank adds more than 2,000 sequences
    • Support Rooted in Desire to Improve Lives
    • Samsung Canada, Silken Laumann and Autism Speaks Canada Invite Canadians to Learn the Love Spectrum
    • Your ATN@Work: Treating anxiety in children and teens with autism
    • Your ATN@Work: Recognizing anxiety in children and teens with autism
    • Expanding Service Options for Children and Youth with Autism
    • Tracing autism's trajectories could help explain its diversity
    • Gathering MSSNG Insights on Autism
    • Thomas Frazier to join Autism Speaks as Chief Science Officer
    • Study Aims to Crack Autism Code
    • Ontario Ombudsman has released the report, Nowhere to Turn
    • The Autism World: Choosing In
    • The Government of Canada wants your input as they develop accessibility legislation
    • The University of Windsor is looking for fathers across Canada
    • Autism Speaks MSSNG study expands understanding of autism's complex genetics.
    • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
    • The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada Partner With Organizations Across Canada to Improve Employment Futures for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Ontario Providing More Supports For Children With Autism
    • Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P researchers present studies at IMFAR
    • More than 5,000 whole genome sequences now available for research into autism subtypes and personalized treatments
    • Spokesperson for the Minister answers FAQ's regarding Ontario Autism Program

Donate Landing photo

COVID-19 Information and Resources

Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism

Focus on transition to adulthood and genetics reflects priority research goals

April 26, 2019 (NEW YORK) – A federal autism panel this month released its selections of the top 20 advances in autism research for 2018, the 2018 IACC Top Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research.

Six of the studies were funded by Autism Speaks’ science program, which provides direct grant funding and administers the Autism Treatment Network (ATN).

Studies are selected by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a federal advisory committee of officials from agencies that work in autism research and services, covering a range of topics from biology and genetics to treatments and health policy.  

Findings on the list spanned a range of research topics and help our understanding of autism, including:

  • Sensory behaviors linked to autism are present in children as young as 12 months.
  • Emotional regulation in people with autism may be related to differences in how the amygdala, an emotional center in the brain, changes from childhood into adulthood.
  • Genes linked to autism may affect how neurons function and communicate in individuals with ASD.
  • Changes in gene expression strongly linked to autism were passed to children by their fathers in a small subset of individuals with autism.
  • Teens and young adults with autism need continued health care follow-ups and screenings with adult health providers because they are more likely than typical adults to have medical and psychiatric conditions in addition to autism.
  • Adults with autism who live at home with a caregiver are less likely to get services they need than those living independently or in a supported living facility. Helping caregivers learn about available services may be one way to reduce care gaps for adults with autism living at home.

“The studies we funded that were selected by IACC reflect our mission to better understand the causes of autism as well as see breakthroughs that can help families right now, in particular families who have children that are aging out of pediatric health care,” said Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Tom Frazier. “We are incredibly proud of these advances and grateful for the work of our volunteers and donors who made them possible.”

IACC selects its annual list of advances as part of its mandate by the Autism CARES Act of 2014 to improve coordination and communication about autism in partnership with the autism community.

For more information about the IACC’s publications and activities, visit www.iacc.hhs.gov.

Studies from the IACC selections that were funded by Autism Speaks:

Understanding Service Usage and Needs for Adults with ASD: The Importance of Living Situation.

Dudley KM, Klinger MR, Meyer A, Powell P, Klinger LG. J Autism Dev Disord. 2018 Aug 25.  [Autism Speaks research grant 8316]

Psychiatric and Medical Conditions in Transition-Aged Individuals With ASD. Davignon MN, Qian Y, Massolo M, Croen LA. Pediatrics. 2018 Apr;141(Suppl 4):S335-S345. [Autism Speaks research grant 9749]

Complete Disruption of Autism-Susceptibility Genes by Gene Editing Predominantly Reduces Functional Connectivity of Isogenic Human Neurons. Deneault E, White SH, Rodrigues DC, Ross PJ, Faheem M, Zaslavsky K, Wang Z, Alexandrova R, Pellecchia G, Wei W, Piekna A, Kaur G, Howe JL, Kwan V, Thiruvahindrapuram B, Walker S, Lionel AC, Pasceri P, Merico D, Yuen RKC, Singh KK, Ellis J, Scherer SW. Stem Cell Reports. 2018 Nov 13;11(5):1211-1225. [Autism Speaks MSSNG project]

A longitudinal study of parent-reported sensory responsiveness in toddlers at-risk for autism.

Wolff JJ, Dimian AF, Botteron KN, Dager SR, Elison JT, Estes AM, Hazlett HC, Schultz RT, Zwaigenbaum L, Piven J, IBIS Network. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019 Mar;60(3):314-324. Epub 2018 Oct 23.  [Autism Speaks grant 6020]

Neuron numbers increase in the human amygdala from birth to adulthood, but not in autism.

Avino TA, Barger N, Vargas MV, Carlson EL, Amaral DG, Bauman MD, Schumann CM,

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Apr 3;115(14):3710-3715. Epub 2018 Mar 20. [Autism Speaks Autism Tissue Project, now Autism BrainNet]

Paternally inherited cis-regulatory structural variants are associated with autism.

Brandler WM, Antaki D, Gujral M, Kleiber ML, Whitney J, Maile MS, Hong O, Chapman TR, Tan S, Tandon P, Pang T, Tang SC, Vaux KK, Yang Y, Harrington E, Juul S, Turner DJ, Thiruvahindrapuram B, Kaur G, Wang Z, Kingsmore SF, Gleeson JG, Bisson D, Kakaradov B, Telenti A, Venter JC, Corominas R, Toma C, Cormand B, Rueda I, Guijarro S, Messer KS, Nievergelt CM, Arranz MJ, Courchesne E, Pierce K, Muotri AR, Iakoucheva LM, Hervas A, Scherer SW, Corsello C, Sebat J. Science. 2018 Apr 20;360(6386):327-331. [Autism Speaks MSSNG project]

Contact Us
  • 2450 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 400
    Toronto, ON M2J 4A2
  • Local: 416-362-6227
  • Toll Free: 1-888-362-6227
  • Fax: 416-362-6228
  • About
  • ASC Connect
  • Get Involved
  • Science, Services & Resources
  • Ways to Give
  • News
  • Media Request & Contact Us
Our Partners
Nutrience
Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
Donate a Car
Echoage
A Buyer's Choice
Bank of Montreal
NFP
Kernels
Cineplex
KRG
Equitable Life of Canada
ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
Cherry Hill
Cadillac Fairview
dentalcorp
PepsiCo
Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
Randstad
Samsung Canada
  • © 2021 Autism Speaks Canada
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy