Press Release

ARLINGTON, VA, June 7, 2024 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2024 Graduate Research Competition. The program offers up to $1,000 to master’s students and $2,000 to doctoral candidates or post-doctoral students to conduct autism-focused research. This year, OAR is awarding five grants totaling $7,199. These newly funded grants are a part of the more than $329,266 awarded to fund 193 graduate research studies since 2004.

OAR received 27 study proposals this year from graduate students across the world. Members of the OAR Scientific Council, a group of 18 autism professionals from a variety of fields and backgrounds, reviewed and scored each proposal. Their evaluation was based on three key criteria:

• Alignment with OAR’s research priorities
• Methodological soundness
• Relevance of potential findings for those affected by autism

In keeping with OAR’s dedication to high-quality research, only the best of the best proposals were selected for funding.

Congratulations to the 2024 grant recipients:

Tianna Etes, Oklahoma State University
Trust Me, I’m a Therapist: Investigating the Role of Mistrust in Mental Health Service Utilization and Well-Being among Black Mothers of Autistic Children

Christina Layton, University of Rochester
An Investigation of the Complex Relationships between Sensory Reactivity, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health in Autistic Adults

Renming Liu, Baylor University
Caregiver Assisting in Developing Independent Daily Living Skills (AID)

Viviana Morales, Felician University
Challenges Faced by Latino Families in New Jersey to Access and Maintain Evidence-Based Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Luciana White, York St. John University
Autistic and Not Lonely: A Creative and Participatory Exploration of How Autistic Adolescents Experience Loneliness

For inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Grant Program or for more information on the 2025 funding cycle, please contact OAR at 571-977-5391 or e-mail at research@researchautism.org

About OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national non-profit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism. OAR is dedicated to promoting research that can be applied to help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions. Learn more at www.researchautism.org.