News and Knowledge

In November, OAR’s Board of Directors approved five new research studies for funding, for a total of $196,272, bringing OAR’s all-time total research funding to more than $4.4 million since 2002. OAR received 137 pre-proposals in the 2021 Applied Research Competition and subsequently invited 47 applicants to submit full proposals. Twenty full proposals were then selected to move on to the final round. On November 4 and 5, OAR’s Scientific Council met virtually to review those proposals, ultimately recommending five studies to the Board of Directors as worthy of funding. The Board unanimously approved all five studies for funding.

OAR thanks the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation for generously supporting one of these five deserving grantees.

Congratulations to the 2021 Applied Research Grant recipients!

Amplifying Autistic Voices: Investigating the Impact of a Community-Based Public Speaking Program
Sasha Zeedyk, Ph.D., and Yasamin Bolourian, Ph.D.
California State University, Fullerton, California

A Comparison of Simultaneous and Sequential Bilingualism in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Mirela Cengher, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and Caio F. Miguel, Ph.D., BCBA-D
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, Maryland

Contextual Behavioral Strategies to Help Parents Adhere to Behavior Plans for Children with Autism
Craig William Strohmeier, Psy.D., BCBA-D
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland
Sponsored by the Lisa Higgins Hussman Foundation

Improving Outcomes in Autism: Community Implementation of Stepped Transition in Education Program
Susan White, Ph.D.
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Autistic Adults: The Role of Community and Social Connections
Brenna Maddox, Ph.D., and Dara V. Chan, ScD, CRC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Summaries of each study are available in OAR’s research portal. Beginning in February, OAR will feature research previews of each new study in The OARacle. For more information on the newly funded studies or on OAR’s Applied Research Competition, contact OAR at 703-243-9762 or via email at research @researchautism.org.