Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

Launched in 2006, SFARI is a scientific initiative within the [Simons Foundation](https://www.simonsfoundation.org/)'s suite of programs. SFARI's mission is to advance the basic science of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. In 2007, SFARI issued its first request for applications, its goal being to attract top researchers to the field of autism research. Today, with a budget of over $100 million per year, SFARI supports over 300 investigators. Since 2003, the Simons Foundation has provided or committed more than $725 million in external research support to more than 700 investigators in the U.S. and abroad. SFARI awards research grants to investigators, nationally and internationally, through an open [Requests for Applications](https://www.sfari.org/funding-opportunities/) process that is overseen by the SFARI science team and that includes external review by expert scientific panels.