The work of Flinders University’s Autism Research Laboratory has been given a boost with funding of almost $850,000 towards establishing a new ‘Autism Research Initiative’.
A generous $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor supported by funding from Flinders University will be delivered over five years and includes support for a new research role focused on autism.
The initiative will drive strategic collaboration between researchers and partners and build capacity for research and education on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or autism.
It will serve as a global hub for autism research, promoting worldwide collaboration between academia, healthcare systems, industry, funders and autistic organisations.
“This new initiative represents a significant step forward in helping support the autistic community, their families and the wider community,” says Professor Robyn Young from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
The new funding will help expedite innovative solutions for the 75 million people around the world living with autism through increased strategic research investment, capacity building, and research translation into tangible support.
The work will advance early autism detection and better identification of autistic women. It will also expand understanding of co-occurring conditions such as eating disorders and trauma, and further help autistic people navigate the criminal justice system.
“Importantly, this initiative represents a significant step forward in allowing us to dive further into life-changing research and develop more evidence-based approaches that will improve outcomes for autism,” says Professor Young.
“We are extremely grateful to the donor of $500,000 which will have a large and lasting impact in improving the lives of autistic people.
“The generous donation along with Flinders’ funding will allow us to coordinate our research, apply for grants for other projects and support our higher degrees student to conduct their research.”
Autism is one of the most prevalent, serious neurodevelopmental disorders which affects the brain’s growth and development.
It is a lifelong condition, with symptoms appearing in early childhood, and is increasingly being diagnosed. It can be characterised by difficulty in social communication; difficulty in social interaction; and restricted or repetitive behaviours and interests.
Professor Young leads Flinders’ Autism Research Laboratory. Her interest in autism began while studying savants as part of her PhD in Savant Syndrome. This work became the subject of an ABC documentary titled Uncommon Genius.
She went on to develop a screening tool for Autistic Disorder suitable for use in children as young as 12 months of age. This tool, known as the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC; ACER, 2007), clearly operationalises early behaviours indicative of autism, and she also helped Flinders University colleagues develop an intervention program called SPECTRA in 2009.
