In an effort to better understand the causes of autism in those with a known genetic variant associated with ASD or other developmental disorders, in 2010, the Simons Foundation launched Simons VIP, now known as  Simons Searchlight – an online international research program studying nearly 200 rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders and working with over 60 patient advocacy groups across these conditions. 

Since its inception, it has grown to not just study specific genes, but to provide de-identified aggregate data to researchers & industry, support for patient advocacy groups to bring together families & researchers (thanks to the generosity of the Simons Foundation), identify even more genes associated with autism, and create international communities. 

These communities share similar underlying mechanisms even though there are sixty genes represented within Simons Searchlight. This week is a conversation with the principal investigator of Simons Searchlight, Dr. Wendy Chung, talks about why genes associated with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders are so important to study, what the scientific community has learned, and how Patient Advocacy Groups have grown and flourished as a result of this understanding.

If you are having problems accessing a genetic test, here are some tips