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Research Committee
Autism Ontario strongly supports research in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Our Research Committee provides direction to the organization by identifying priority areas and advising where our support and funds should be directed. A large component of the funding we provide goes to research scholarships, which encourage students to pursue a career in the field, and particularly in the area of ASD research. These scholarship programs are partially funded by Together for Autism.

Autism Ontario's Research Committee, comprised of researchers and community leaders in the Autism field, are currently the following:

Anita Acheson
Dr. James Bebko (chair)
Laura Cavanagh
Dr. Jeanette Holden
Dr. Mary Konstantareas
Bonnie McPhail
Aliya Rahim
Dr. Glenn Rampton
Margaret Spoelstra
Jean Woolford - staff support

The Supplementary Resource Group serves as a resource to the Research Committee and other groups of Autism Ontario. The Resource Group can consist of researchers, parents, community agency representatives, and others interested in reviewing scholarship applications and providing input to other Autism Ontario groups on an ad hoc basis.

Research Scholarships
To find out about our research scholarships, please click here.

Other Research Opportunities
The Autism Research Training (ART) Program is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR), with supplemental funding from the Sinneave Family Foundation. Its goal is to recruit and train outstanding researchers in the field of autism, in disciplines such as genetics, brain imaging, epidemiology, neurology, psychiatry, psychology and others.
The ART Program is open to applicants with a solid academic disciplinary background in health care, science, social sciences, or humanities. Trainees are selected based on outstanding academic profiles; commitment to a research career; and the strength, transdisciplinarity and relevance of their research proposals.
Applicants must be registered at a Canadian university, where they complete their core training and conduct their research, under the supervision of a Program Supervisor. Once applicants become ART trainees, they receive mentorship from 3 ART Program Faculty.
Fellowship funding, as well as a travel stipend, are provided.
ART Program training activities include participation to a 5-day intensive Summer School Program, a biennial Winter Institute, an international guest speaker event at IMFAR, and knowledge translation and dissemination activities.
The deadline to apply for admission to the 2010 ART Program is March 12, 2010.
For more information, and to download the application form, please visit the ART Program website: www.traininautism.com.

Partners in Research
Autism Ontario actively supports organizations whose work focuses on research.

Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network (CAIRN)
International Society of Autism Research (INSAR)
Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), a partner of Autism Ontario and Canada's major health research funding organization, has just released its 2006-2007 Annual Report. Entitled Touching Lives, the report features photo essays of 8 remarkable Canadians who have benefited from health research. One profile tells the story of the the Wright family, from London, Ontario. Alex Wright, who is now 5 years old, was diagnosed with autism at just 18 months thanks to help from CIHR-supported researchers Drs. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum and Susan Bryson who developed a new tool called the Autism Observation Scale for Infants. The early diagnosis, along with Dr. Zwaigenbaum's support, helped the family get access to much-needed services for Alex.
To read more about this story please visit:

Research Studies

The following is a list of some of the research studies currently being conducted in Canada. Each study calls for participants for an ASD-related study. Prior to posting these research study requests, the submitter must provide Autism Ontario with a copy of their approved Code of Ethics, a Synopsis of the Thesis, a timeline for the posting and details regarding how interested subjects may participate.(this may include a flyer). Please visit this site regularly to check out what studies are currently available.
For questions or submissions, please contact: research@autismontario.com

New! York University - Autism & the transition out of high school. Research participants needed for an online survey. Must have a family member who has graduated or left high school between the years of 2004 & 2009. Click here for more details.

Sickkids' Research Study: Young volunteers with ASD needed to participate in research studies investigating brain function. Click here for more details.

Brock University Study - Training Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children & Youth with High-Functioning Autism & Asperger's Syndrome is recruiting children/youth to participate in this study.

Brock University Research Study - Participants needed for Functional Behaviour Assessment of Challenging Behaviour in Children and Youth with ASDs - Looking for parents of a child between 5 and 18..

University of Toronto and Bloorview Kids Rehab are in a research study investigating the use of virtual reality as an interactive educational tool. They are looking for children between the ages of 5 and 10 to participate. Click here for more information.

The Simons Simplex Collection leading and international investigation into the mysteries of Autism is currently enrolling families. Consider joining this study.

University of Windsor need parents for a disabilities research study - Thinking, Socializing & Coping Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire.

CAMH Study about what happens when people with Autism or Asperger Syndrome have major challenges or are in crisis.Families will be asked to complete an online questionnaire.

Simon Fraser University - An Invitation to participate in a research study investigating social skills in ASD.
Looking for parents of youth with an ASD diagnosis, are verbal, and between the ages of 11-18.

Simon Fraser University is conducting an online survey. With this online survey, they are hoping to learn about the variability of social skills of children with ASD. A $25 honorarium is being offered as a token of appreciation for those who complete the study.

York University study about Bullying and Autism Spectrum Disorder
This is a nation wide study to investigate bullying experiences among children and youth diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Carleton University is conducting a web-based survey to investigate the potential benefits of having a companion dog for children with ASD and their families.

York University - Parents' Involvement in Behavioural Intervention Programs
We are looking for parents with children of any age with a diagnosis of autism, PDD-NOS and/or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children must be participating in an Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) program ... For more details.
Study of Support Groups Use in Parents of Children with ASD: Predictors of Involvement
Queen's University is looking for participants in a study on support group use in parents of children with ASD. Click here for more details.

CAMH Research Study: Group Therapy for Mood for people with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism
We are researchers who are evaluating how a type of therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can help adults with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, who also have problems with sadness. We are offering all participants group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

SickKids' Research Study: How children's brains process sounds & sights
Volunteers are needed to participate in a research study at Hospital for Sick Children. Click here for more details.

Adventure Place and York University's Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative are pleased to announce a new program to provide and evaluate intensive intervention for Autism using DIR/Floortime method. The program is Currently looking for families to participate. Please click here for details.