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Current Grantees

Current Grantees

The New Jersey Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism is happy to introduce the grantees for our Concept Project and Fellowship Program awards. For more information on the Council's programs and current opportunities, please see our Current Grant Initiatives.

FY2024 Basic Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Peng Jiang, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Regulation of Human Forebrain Development by ASD-Associated Cytokines in Human iPSC-derived Cerebral Organoids
Description: Research shows that maternal conditions like infections, allergies, obesity, or pollution during pregnancy can increase a child’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by two to four times. A key factor may be the immune molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6), which can cross from the mother to the fetal brain and has been shown in animal studies to cause ASD-like behaviors. However, since most studies use mice, researchers plan to create human “mini-brains” from stem cells to study how IL-6 affects the development of different types of brain cells. They hypothesize that IL-6 disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons and reduces the formation of support cells. Understanding this process could lead to repurposing existing IL-6–blocking drugs to help prevent or treat ASD.

FY2025 Basic Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Xin Di, Ph.D.	New Jersey Institute of Technology	Exploring Eye Movement Patterns and Brain Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Deep Learning-Based Eye-tracking with Functional MRI.
Description: This study is about understanding eye movements in children and young adults with autism. Individuals with autism often show different patterns of looking at others during social interactions, such as avoiding eye contact. But it's hard to track eye movements using special cameras in a brain scanner. But a new technology called deep learning has made it possible to study eye movements using brain scans alone. This is exciting because it means we can study eye movements in larger groups of people who have already had functional MRI scans. In this study, we will improve the deep learning model to make it even better at tracking eye movements. We will also study where the participants look when they watch a video or just lay still. Our goal is to see if there are differences in how people with autism and those who develop typically look at things. This study will give us new information about how people with autism see the world. The results could help us understand autism better and improve how we diagnose it in the future.

FY2026 Basic Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Jennifer Mulle, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Investigating risk and resilience for ASD through the phenomenon of incomplete penetrance.
Description: Genetic studies have linked hundreds of genes to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but many people with these genetic variants do not develop autism — a mystery known as incomplete penetrance. This project focuses on a rare chromosome 3q29 deletion, which greatly increases autism risk but affects individuals differently, ranging from severe social disability to none at all. Researchers will create 20 cell lines and brain-like organoids from people with this deletion to compare gene activity between those with high and low social functioning, including differences by sex. The results will help identify biological or environmental factors driving incomplete penetrance and provide valuable resources for future ASD research.

Michael Shiflett, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	The effects of adolescent social isolation in neuropilin-2 deficient mice as a model of gene-environment interactions.
Description: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience social isolation, which can lead to loneliness, anxiety, depression, and changes in brain development. Little is known about how isolation specifically affects the ASD brain, so this study uses mice lacking the NRP2 gene, an ASD-risk gene, to examine the effects under controlled social and genetic conditions. Researchers will study dendritic spines and brain cell activity during learning tasks to see how social isolation impacts brain function. The findings may reveal differences in how ASD brains respond to isolation, informing more effective treatment strategies and improving understanding of ASD biology.

Fernando Velloso, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Dysgenesis of neural stem cells and progenitors in the etiology of Autism.
Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk may be influenced by maternal immune activity during pregnancy, particularly elevated levels of the protein Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Research in mice shows that increased IL-6 disrupts the development of astrocytes—support cells that help form and maintain synapses in brain regions important for social behavior—leading to behaviors resembling ASD. These effects occur without general brain inflammation, suggesting astrocytes, rather than immune cells, play a key role in synapse disruption. This study aims to understand how IL-6 affects astrocyte function and synapse formation, which could inform new treatments for preventing ASD in at-risk pregnancies.

FY2024 Clinical Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Christina Simmons, Ph.D.	Rowan University	Randomized Pilot Evaluation of Healthcare Professional Training Using a Virtual Reality Training Program for Severe Behavior in Children with Autism.
Description: This project aims to create and test a virtual reality (VR) training tool for healthcare professionals who work with children with autism that display severe and unsafe behaviors. The tool allows clinicians to practice behavioral interventions with personalized feedback from home, removing barriers to access and improving training realism. The customizable VR program is designed to teach effective, sustainable strategies, support trainers with useful data, and enhance treatment outcomes for children. It may also boost clinician job satisfaction and retention in the autism care field.

Walter Zahorodny, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Detection & Connection – ASD Screening Project
Description: This project aims to improve early detection and service access for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), especially in low-income and minority communities where diagnosis and intervention rates are lower. The Pediatric Detection + Connection (Ped-D+C) program, first tested in Newark, uses a brief autism screener (PDQ-1) during pediatric visits and partners with Mom2Mom, a peer support network of mothers of children with special needs, to connect families to early intervention services. The program successfully increased ASD screening and referrals in its pilot phase. Its goals are to expand screening in underserved populations, strengthen links to services, reduce racial and economic disparities in ASD identification, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ped-D+C model.

FY2025 Clinical Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Allison Curry, Ph.D., M.P.H.	Children's Hospital of Philadelphia	The Empowering Transport among Autistic Adolescents (ETA) Virtual Program for NJ Autistic Adolescents and their Caregivers.
Description: The transition to adulthood for autistic adolescents involves challenges in independent living, employment, and social engagement, with independent mobility playing a key role in improving opportunities and well-being. Many autistic teens and their families are interested in driving or other forms of transportation, but few receive adequate support, creating barriers to community engagement. This project aims to develop the web-based Empowering Transport among Autistic Adolescents (ETA) program, offering evidence-based modules on driving readiness, learning to drive, and nondriving mobility options. The team will design and evaluate a clickable prototype of the platform, integrating tools from complementary projects to support independent mobility and enhance quality of life for autistic youth.

Kurin Suri, M.D.	Joseph Sanzari Children's Hospital (HMH)	Can a Novel, Multidisciplinary, Longitudinal Screening Process Lead to Earlier ASD Diagnosis in a Racially and Socioeconomically Diverse Population of ASD At-Risk Children?
Description: Newborns who require NICU care are at higher risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are an important population for early diagnosis and intervention. This study aims to determine whether longitudinal, multidisciplinary monitoring can identify ASD by age two, much earlier than the current average diagnosis age of nearly five years in New Jersey. NICU graduates face multiple biological, genetic, and environmental risk factors, and early signs of ASD may be overlooked due to complex medical and developmental needs. The research will also explore the relationship between early motor delays and ASD in this high-risk population to improve early detection and outcomes.

FY2026 Clinical Research Pilot Projects

Name	Institution	Project Title
Katherine Gotham, Ph.D.	Rowan University	A novel investigation of masking behaviors and their prospective relation to depressive symptoms among neurodiverse college students.
Description: Depression is more common among autistic adults, especially those who also identify as gender expansive, but existing treatments are often less effective for them. This study examines how “masking” — hiding one’s autistic or gender identity due to discrimination — may contribute to depression in autistic, gender-expansive college students. Researchers will explore whether having both identities leads to more masking, how thinking styles linked to depression (attributional styles) influence masking, and whether multiple masking predicts higher depression over time. The findings could improve understanding of depression risk and lead to better mental health support and treatments for autistic individuals, particularly those who are gender expansive.

Tracy Kettering, Ph.D.	Bancroft	Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Clinical Protocol to Identify Medical Influences on Challenging Behavior in Individuals with Autism.
Description: Individuals with autism, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, often experience medical issues that can cause or worsen challenging behaviors. Although behavior analysts (BCBAs) are responsible for addressing such behaviors, they currently lack guidance on identifying when medical conditions may be a contributing factor or how to collaborate with healthcare providers. This project aims to create a clinical protocol to help BCBAs recognize possible medical influences on behavior and work effectively with medical professionals. Researchers will develop the protocol with input from autistic individuals, caregivers, and experts, then test its usefulness in real-world settings to improve care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

FY2024 Fellowship Research

Name	Institution	Project Title
Mengmeng Jin	Rutgers University	Modeling Microglial Dysfunction with Human iPSC Models of Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Description: Up to 39% of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) also have autism (DS-ASD), far higher than in the general population. Microglia, the brain’s immune cells, are crucial for brain development and cognitive function, and their dysfunction is linked to ASD. This study will generate microglia from human stem cells derived from DS individuals and transplant them into mouse brains to create a human-mouse chimeric model. This approach will help researchers understand how microglia contribute to DS-ASD and may guide the development of new therapies for ASD in both DS and the broader population.

FY2025 Fellowship Research

Name	Institution	Project Title
Hanna Caiola	Rutgers University	Boosting Engagement and Skill Acquisition through Technology and Personalization: A Pilot Trial of Enhanced Transdiagnostic Behavioral Therapy.
Description: Autistic adults are at high risk for co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, but few treatments have been studied for this population. This project aims to improve Group Behavioral Activation Treatment (GBAT) specifically for autistic adults to enhance their mental health and quality of life. The study will refine GBAT+ and guide future research on its effectiveness. It also has broader impact by providing direct support to autistic adults and training psychologists to better serve this community.

Caroline Freden	Montclair State University	Racial, Ethnic, and Language Disparities in Autism Health Service Use among Children in NJ: Assessing Longitudinal Trends of Service Gaps and the Role of Social Determinants.
Description: Autism affects about 1 in 35 eight-year-olds in New Jersey, yet many non-autistic “Community Helpers” have limited knowledge and may hold stigmatizing views. Neurodiversity-affirming interventions aim to build two-way relationships that highlight strengths and support growth in ways that align with autistic individuals’ needs. This project uses participatory research methods to involve the autistic community in designing and implementing an autism training for Community Helpers. The training will include role-playing and assess its impact, ease, and acceptance, ensuring it is meaningful and beneficial for autistic individuals.

FY2026 Fellowship Research

Name	Institution	Project Title
Isabel Baron Mendoza, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	How Should We Measure Autistic Adult Well-Being? A Preliminary Study.
Description: This project aims to better understand and measure well-being in autistic adults by developing a new autism-specific well-being survey and adapting existing general population surveys for this group. Autistic adults and caregivers will collaborate in designing and testing the surveys through focus groups and interviews to ensure clarity and relevance. The final surveys will be tested with 150 autistic adults and 150 caregivers from the SPARK research sample to evaluate how well they measure well-being and related life factors. The results will provide tools to improve understanding and support of well-being across the diverse autistic adult community.

Elaine Clarke, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Racial, Ethnic, and Language Disparities in Autism Health Service Use among Children in NJ: Assessing Longitudinal Trends of Service Gaps and the Role of Social Determinants.
Description: Autism affects about 1 in 35 eight-year-olds in New Jersey, yet many non-autistic “Community Helpers” have limited knowledge and may hold stigmatizing views. Neurodiversity-affirming interventions aim to build two-way relationships that highlight strengths and support growth in ways that align with autistic individuals’ needs. This project uses participatory research methods to involve the autistic community in designing and implementing an autism training for Community Helpers. The training will include role-playing and assess its impact, ease, and acceptance, ensuring it is meaningful and beneficial for autistic individuals.

Sol Diaz de Leon	Rutgers University	Deciphering the Role of the BAF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Activity-Dependent Transcription and Neuronal Function in ASD Risk Gene Mutations.
Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a strong genetic basis, with many risk genes affecting how brain cells grow and communicate. This project focuses on mutations in genes that form the BAF chromatin remodeling complex—ARID1B, SMARCA4, SMARCC2, and ADNP—which are linked to syndromic forms of ASD and developmental delays. Using human stem cell–derived neurons and brain organoids, researchers will study how these mutations alter gene regulation, chromatin structure, and neuronal communication. The findings will reveal how disrupted gene pathways contribute to ASD and may guide the development of future therapeutic strategies.

Prathana Gowda	Rutgers University	Investigating the Role of Cytoskeleton Remodeling in Autism-related TRIO Loss of Function in Human Neurons.
Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about one in 35 children in New Jersey and is linked to challenges in social interaction and communication. This study investigates the TRIO gene, which helps maintain neuron structure and function and has been strongly associated with ASD but not well studied in human neurons. Researchers will use stem cells from diverse backgrounds, introduce TRIO mutations with gene-editing tools, and convert them into neurons to analyze structural and functional changes. The findings will clarify how TRIO mutations contribute to ASD and may identify new targets for future drug development.

Rebecca Sebastian, Ph.D.	Rutgers University	Using Lineage Tracing to Understand The Impact Of A High-Risk Autism Variant On The Cellular Composition Of The Developing Forebrain.
Description: The 3q29 deletion is a rare genetic variant that increases autism risk by about 20 times and is linked to smaller brain size, though its effects on brain development are not well understood. This study will use 3D forebrain organoids made from stem cells of individuals with the 3q29 deletion to model early brain development. Researchers will examine how the deletion affects neural progenitor cells (NPCs)—the foundation for neurons and glial cells—by analyzing cell production, cell type proportions, and developmental progression. The findings will help explain how the 3q29 deletion disrupts brain growth and could inform future research and treatments for ASD.

Sydney Terroso	Rowan University	Autistic Identity, Health, and Well-being: Investigating the Associations Between Identity Integration and Affiliation and Health Markers among Autistic Adults.
Description: Many autistic adults experience mental and physical health challenges, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and sleep disorders, which affect their quality of life. Research suggests that developing a positive autistic identity—feeling proud of being autistic and connected to the autistic community—can improve well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life. This study will investigate factors that support or hinder the development of a positive autistic identity, such as age of diagnosis, social acceptance, and access to support, while also considering the influence of race, gender, and sexuality. Collaborating with autistic adults as community experts, the study will use surveys and interviews to understand identity development and guide services that promote acceptance, inclusion, and improved mental and physical health for autistic adults.

Rebecca Zaritsky	Rutgers University	Understanding Autism Neuropathology Through IL-6-Induced Modification of Mouse And Human Subventricular Zone Neural Progenitors.
Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) now affects 2.9% of children in New Jersey, with maternal immune activation during pregnancy identified as a key environmental risk factor. When a mother’s immune system is activated, the protein Interleukin-6 (IL-6) can cross the placenta and impact fetal brain development, particularly neural progenitor cells that generate neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. This study will investigate how IL-6 alters gene expression in different progenitor populations and changes the types of brain cells they produce, potentially contributing to the altered brain composition seen in ASD. The findings could clarify the neurobiological basis of ASD and inform new strategies for prevention or early intervention in high-risk pregnancies.

FY2024 New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence

Name	Institution	Project Title
Wayne Fisher, Ph.D.	Children’s Specialized Hospital	New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence.
Description: This project aims to improve autism research, diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes in New Jersey by fostering collaboration among researchers, educators, practitioners, and autistic individuals and their families. The NJACE will provide training programs, workshops, and stipends to healthcare professionals, with priority for those serving marginalized communities, and will support seed grants to develop competitive federal training proposals. It will also create a statewide online ASD research database to connect researchers with the ASD community, facilitate participation in research, and disseminate the latest scientific advances. The initiative emphasizes areas such as transition to adulthood, developmental supports, data-driven health improvements, addressing disparities, and promoting cross-sector collaboration for health equity.