When the Trump administration announced a call for new research into autism’s origins in late May, a wave of concern swept through the scientific community. Many feared that the political climate, particularly around vaccine skepticism, would unduly influence which projects would secure vital funding.
The application process itself heightened anxieties, as it appeared to grant health officials an unusual degree of control over vetting, with researchers given only a few weeks to submit their study proposals.
Given Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vocal promotion of the thoroughly disproven theory linking vaccines to autism, many prospective applicants openly expressed fears. They worried the administration might favor projects aligning with its preconceived notions, rather than those based on sound science.
However, a cautious optimism emerged this week as scientists discovered that the thirteen projects selected for funding by the National Institutes of Health were, surprisingly, quite different from what they had anticipated.
These thirteen projects, collectively receiving $50 million, were notable for their reliance on diverse patient data and their strong foundation in established autism science. Their focus was on exploring how genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors to influence an individual’s risk of developing autism.
This scientific approach stood in stark contrast to the week’s sensational White House briefing, which featured unsubstantiated claims about Tylenol causing autism and a flurry of discredited theories linking childhood vaccines to the condition and its rising prevalence.
Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer at the Autism Science Foundation, expressed considerable enthusiasm: “We’re very optimistic that these projects will yield important insights, regardless of the specific questions they address.”
She further noted that the selected research encompassed a wide range of factors, “from toxicants and nutrition to early contextual elements like socioeconomic status.”
During a White House event on Monday, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health—the world’s leading medical research funder—joined President Trump and Mr. Kennedy to officially announce the research grants.
However, Dr. Bhattacharya’s remarks were largely overshadowed by President Trump’s emphatic warnings concerning acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, and the safety of childhood vaccines.
President Trump’s assertions were met with dismay by many autism scientists. While they found encouragement in the NIH-funded projects, a broader sense of apprehension lingered regarding the overall direction of autism research promoted by the Trump administration.
This concern extended to a vaccine safety review, notably assigned by Mr. Kennedy to David Geier, a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement known for disseminating the repeatedly disproven vaccine-autism link.
Adding to the complex picture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently indicated plans to award a contract for vaccine-autism link investigations to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
Earlier in the year, many autism researchers experienced significant cuts or delays in their federal funding, as the Trump administration reportedly redirected support away from studies on topics such as gender and diversity.
Nevertheless, the NIH’s Autism Data Science Initiative provided a measure of relief and direction for researchers in the field. Dr. Bhattacharya confirmed this week that over 250 research teams had applied for funding.
One of the funded teams is led by Dr. Judith S. Miller, an associate professor at the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Their work will delve into the intricate relationship between genetic and environmental factors contributing to autism.
Her team’s comprehensive study will investigate various elements, including shifts in autism diagnostic criteria, environmental factors like air and water quality, access to green spaces, socioeconomic conditions such as poverty, and the impact of early childhood interventions.
Dr. Miller explained, “While we understand the significant genetic component—accounting for roughly 80 percent of identifiable autism causes—simply knowing the genetic root doesn’t fully predict individual outcomes or guide specific therapeutic approaches.”
The Philadelphia-based team will leverage extensive maternal and childhood health data. Dr. Miller confirmed that strict protocols would protect patient data, allaying earlier concerns about a potential federal registry for autistic individuals.
In San Diego, Jonathan Sebat, a prominent figure in autism genetics at the University of California, received funding for his team’s work. Their goal is to utilize genetic insights to better understand the influence of environmental exposures on autism diagnoses.
Initially, Sebat worried that the rapid review process for federal proposals might compromise quality. However, he noted, “those fears were unfounded — the applications truly underwent a rigorous review.”
Dr. Sebat’s project aims to illuminate the connections between environmental factors and autism, as indicated by previous studies.
He elaborated, “The underlying mechanisms for these correlations remain unclear. However, we have a strong grasp on the genetics of autism, which helps other puzzle pieces, like environmental influences, come into focus.”
Further funded projects will investigate dietary and chemical exposures, alongside factors that predict improved outcomes for autistic children.
Autism experts expressed astonishment at the stark contrast between the unfounded theories championed by Mr. Trump and the robust, evidence-based research advanced by another branch of his administration.
Helen Tager-Flusberg, director of Boston University’s Center for Autism Research Excellence and founder of the Coalition of Autism Scientists, remarked, “To me, they exist in entirely different universes. This new funding supports very serious, forward-looking, exciting, rigorous, and gold-standard science.”