Thousands of People With Autism Join Simons Foundation's SPARK Initiative
Autism has a strong genetic component. To date, approximately 50 genes have been identified that almost certainly play a role in autism, and researchers estimate that a least an additional 300 are involved. But to identify all the genes at play, many more genetic samples are needed from those with autism and their immediate families.
That's where SPARK comes in. Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) is an online scientific study and community of individuals with autism and their families. Launched just a year ago, SPARK has already enrolled over 49,500 people from across the country, 19,500 of whom have autism. With 25 clinical site partners around the nation, the study aims to ultimately enroll 50,000 people with autism, plus their families.
SPARK is proud to announce it has expanded the research collaborative this year to include four new sites: the Geisinger Clinic of Pennsylvania, Maine Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of Iowa...