Why Research?

Autism is a condition that affects millions of lives in the UK – those diagnosed, their families and friends. It is an unbelievably complex, multifactorial condition, and its research and treatment has received so little funding. It is because of the scale and complexity of the challenge that research is needed, and will help fill an enormous gap in our scientific understanding, and hopefully provide new avenues for treatment. Professor Baron Cohen and his team are world class in the field, and take a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.

- Parent of an autistic child

Our Research

Thanks to our supporters, the Autism Research Trust funds research to understand the causes of autism, improve diagnosis and explore interventions to ensure that autistic people receive the best possible support. The majority of our funds have been directed to the pioneering research of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge.

Our Priorities

Our goal is to support research that can help understand the causes of autism, improve the diagnosis and explore interventions to ensure that autistic people receive the best possible support. Read more

What we've achieved so far

Browse below a list of the milestones achieved by the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge during the past decades. Read more

Latest

Mental Health Awareness Week: the link between autism and suicide

Autistic people are 9 x more likely to die from suicide than non-autistic people. This week we are highlighting a research project about the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, one of the most recent explanations for why someone decides to take their own life.
Autism Awareness Month: Preparing the World

Dan's 7 year old son, Joshie, is severely autistic and non-verbal, but while being on the Autistic Spectrum is far from easy, Dan explains it is the lack of awareness within society that is the real challenge.
Autism and COVID

Read more about the contrasting experiences and reactions of the autism community to the exceptional circumstances of the past year, the challenges and what we can learn.
Autism Awareness Month: progress of last 20 years

Lisa, mother to 22-year old Robert who is autistic with moderate to severe learning difficulties, explains the importance of Autism Awareness Month and how while lots more needs to be done, the progress of the past 20 years should be celebrated.

Are autistic people being misdiagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder?

A new study has shown that there is an overlap in the behaviour traits of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Autism. Could this mean people are receiving the wrong diagnosis?
What is autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability, that can affects people's ability to communicate and build relationships.
The Autism Research Trust

We fund research to understand the causes of autism, improve diagnosis and explore interventions to ensure that autistic people receive the best possible support.
Rover's story

By his father, Robert
The Transporters

An animated series helping young children to recognise emotions, by using animated vehicles with real human faces.
Vulnerabilty and Mental Health

The research aims to get a broad but detailed representation of types of vulnerability experienced by autistic children and adults, and documate those that may be risk factors for developing anxiety and depression.
Our Priorities

Our goal is to support research that can help understand the causes of autism, improve the diagnosis and explore interventions to ensure that autistic people receive the best possible support.
Meet the team
The Autism Research Centre

At the cutting edge of autism research, the Centre is based in Cambridge and led by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
Bricks for Autism: LEGO-based therapy for children

Bricks for Autism is a social venture that aims at supporting children with communication and learning disabilities through a therapy of building LEGO models. And whilst helping children with autism develop key skills, it also helps funding vital research.