THIS ARTICLE IS MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OLD
This article is more than five years old. Autism research — and science in general — is constantly evolving, so older articles may contain information or theories that have been reevaluated since their original publication date.
Some parents faced with an autism diagnosis for their child turn to science, forming advocacy and grant-funding groups that help drive the research into new treatments. We gave a few examples of these parents in our news article last week.
Ask a parent and a scientist what they think research goals should be, and you’re likely to get different answers. Parents tend to advocate a high-risk, results-based approach, or call for research on seemingly tangential health issues that can have a major impact on quality of life. This perspective can balance the often cautious and incremental pace of basic science and add a refreshing dose of humanity to the work.
Some collaborations have already pushed the field forward, driving the discovery of new genes associated with autism-linked disorders and the funding of novel drug candidates. Yet, as parents note in the piece, much could be done to further align parents’ hopes with the realities of scientists’ responsibilities and resources.
What do you think?
- Researchers: Has interacting with family members affected by autism influenced how you approach your work? If so, how?
- Parents: What are some topics or approaches you’d like scientists to focus on? What would make the biggest difference to your child’s (and your) life?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Or, to dig deeper, continue the conversation in the moderated SFARI Forum for researchers. Not yet a member? Learn how to register here.
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