Reuters: Researchers have submitted more than 100 proposals to participate in the Trump administration’s $50 million study into possible causes of autism, with a list of up to 25 grant winners expected to be announced by the end of September, people with knowledge of the plans told Reuters.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced the Autism Data Science Initiative in May, and put the National Institutes of Health in charge of it. The programme aims to mine large datasets to investigate possible contributors to autism and evaluate the outcomes of existing treatments.
Studies chosen for funding might begin to show results in two to three years, according to the government’s request for research proposals.
The effort is proceeding separately from a review of vaccine safety commissioned by Kennedy, who has long promoted the idea that vaccines contribute to autism, contrary to scientific evidence. He has promised to announce health policy changes in September “that will dramatically impact the effects” related to autism, without providing details on the data that would support such changes.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy-led Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, said the agency is committed to addressing the rise in autism and will issue awards in September “pending receipt of scientifically meritorious ideas from the research community.” They did not comment on any policy changes planned by Kennedy.
Proposals for the NIH grant funding involve nearly 500 major universities and research institutions, advocacy organizations, and data firms, according to a list of applicants reviewed by Reuters. Among the prominent names: Harvard University, Columbia University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University.
“I know many colleagues who applied for it, because they weren’t sure there would be any other funding for autism research anytime soon,” said Dr Helen Tager-Flusberg, director of Boston University’s Center for Autism Research Excellence, adding they include many of the “most reputable scientists” in the field.
In August, the US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with sweeping cuts to NIH research funding, including some projects related to autism. Some of the universities applying to the NIH autism programme have separately seen scientific funding cut by the Trump administration over their diversity policies or allegations of antisemitism on campus.
