Short report: Patterns of US federal autism research funding during 2017-2019

Abstract

In 2017, an advisory board consisting of autism researchers and community members recommended that funders of autism research prioritize research projects on: (1) treatments/interventions, (2) evidence-based services, and (3) lifespan issues. To describe funding in these areas since this recommendation was made, we searched the databases of the three largest federal funders of autism research in the United States. We found that the largest portion of federal funding during 2017-2019 was awarded to research on the biology of autism (32.59%) and treatments and interventions for autism (22.87%). Less funds were awarded to research areas that are high funding priorities by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee budget recommendation including services (5.02%) and lifespan issues (2.51%). Our findings emphasize that autism research funding is not consistent with the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee budget recommendation to increase funding particularly to services and lifespan issues. We recommend that funding patterns should shift to better align with these priorities so that autism research may better serve the needs of the autism community.

Keywords: autism; funding; research priorities.