The Interactive Autism Network, a project of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, has announced a two-year, $2.18 million grant from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative to advance Internet-mediated autism research.

IAN currently provides a secure platform that connects researchers with more than fifty thousand individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families for possible participation in studies, as well as a comprehensive online library and meeting place focused on ASD research. The grant will enable IAN to increase the number of  individuals — including adults with ASD — and their families who are registered on the platform, which in turn will improve research findings, encourage longitudinal studies that follow children as they grow and develop, and foster the development of new research communities that share geography, service providers, or interests.

"By partnering with the Simons Foundation, we strengthen our collective effort to bring individuals with ASD, families, service providers, and researchers together to develop better ways to improve the lives of those living with this disorder," said IAN director Paul Lipkin. "We can now expand our ability to explore concerns across the lifespan of those with autism, ensuring that we are tackling issues that address the needs of individuals of all ages, from the newly diagnosed to the teenage years to adulthood."