STAT+: As NIH launches new autism research effort, the focus is on environmental factors

O. Rose Broderick covers the intersection of health policies and technologies that impact the lives of people with disabilities. Prior to joining STAT, she contributed to WNYC’s Radiolab and Scientific American, and her article challenging a flawed theory regarding transgender youth was nominated for a 2024 GLAAD Media Award. Reach Rose on Signal at rosebroderick.11.

Recently, the National Institutes of Health announced a $50 million initiative, hypothesizing that environmental factors may shed light on the reasons behind autism.

This funding will be allocated to researchers behind 13 proposals, predominantly focusing on the underlying causes of autism. Federal health authorities posit that various environmental influences, from dietary habits to geographical factors, as well as exposure to chemicals and pesticides, might affect the likelihood of developing autism.

“The NIH has made significant investments to study autism over many years, yet the outcomes haven’t provided the clarity that families and parents of autistic children expect, nor what the children themselves need,” said Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the agency, during a press conference announcing new initiatives aimed at tackling increasing autism rates.