A Portfolio Analysis of Autism Research Funding in Australia, 2008–2017
Abstract
Autism research funding across the world has disproportionately been invested in biological and genetic research, despite evidence that these topics are not prioritized by community members. We sought to determine whether a similar pattern was evident in Australia's autism research funding landscape between 2008 and 2017, by analysing the nation's portfolio of autism research investments. We also examined whether there was any change in this pattern of funding since the establishment in 2013 of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC). Overall, Australian autism research funding during 2008-2017 followed a similar pattern to other countries, but shifted in the past 5 years. Further progress is required to bring research funding into line with community priorities.
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The vast preponderance of autism research worldwide focuses on the underlying genetic causes and biology of autism.
“It is not, surprising, then, that the vast preponderance of autism research worldwide focuses on the underlying genetic causes and biology of autism (den Houting & Pellicano, 2019; Office of Autism Research Coordination, 2019; Pellicano, Dinsmore, & Charman, 2014b; Singh, Illes, Lazzeroni, & Hallmayer, 2009).”
From Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science (2022) · cites this paper as den Houting & Pellicano, 2019
Following the creation of the Autism CRC, the pattern of Australian autism research funding shifted in the latter 5-year period (2013-2017), resulting in a more even distribution of funding on biological research and topics prioritised by the autistic community, such as services and life span issues.
“but this pattern shifted in the latter 5‐year period (2013–2017) following the creation of the Autism CRC, resulting in a more even distribution of funding on biological research and topics prioritised by the autistic community, such as services and life span issues (den Houting & Pellicano, 2019; Office of Autism Research Coordination, 2019).”
From Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science (2022) · cites this paper as den Houting & Pellicano, 2019
Analysis of the funding expenditure of Australian autism research during 2008-2017 showed that research during the initial 5-year period (2008-2012) followed a similar pattern to Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, including a preponderance of funding allocated to biomedical research.
“Analysis of the funding expenditure of Australian autism research during 2008–2017 showed that research during the initial 5‐year period (2008–2012) followed a similar pattern to Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, including a preponderance of funding allocated to biomedical research”
From Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science (2022) · cites this paper as den Houting & Pellicano, 2019
Cites
The health status of adults on the autism spectrum
Croen, L. A., Zerbo, O., Qian, Y., Massolo, M. L., Rich, S., Sidney, S., & Kripke, C. (2015) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361315577517 · Cited by 1,110 · see citing works
What should autism research focus upon? Community views and priorities from the United Kingdom
Pellicano, E., Dinsmore, A., & Charman, T. (2014) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361314529627 · Cited by 800 · see citing works
Self-citationService Needs Across the Lifespan for Individuals with Autism
Turcotte, P., Mathew, M., Shea, L. L., Brusilovskiy, E., & Nonnemacher, S. L. (2016) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2787-4 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Democratizing clinical research
Lloyd, K., & White, J. (2011) · Nature · doi:10.1038/474277a · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Brief Report: A Survey of Autism Research Priorities Across a Diverse Community of Stakeholders
Frazier, T. W., Dawson, G., Murray, D., Shih, A., Sachs, J. S., & Geiger, A. (2018) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3642-6 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Funding Priorities: Autism and the Need for a More Balanced Research Agenda in Canada
Krahn, T. M., & Fenton, A. (2012) · Public Health Ethics · doi:10.1093/phe/phs027 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
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Annual Research Review: Shifting from ‘normal science’ to neurodiversity in autism science
Pellicano, E., & den Houting, J. (2022) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.13534 · Cited by 744 · see citing works
“…needs (commonly termed ‘high functioning’; Fenton & Krahn, 2007; Jaarsma & Welin, 2012), the neurodiversity paradigm is explicitly inclusive of all autistic and neurodivergent people, including those with the highest and most complex support needs (Grinker, 2020; den Houting, 2019; Ne’eman, 2021).”
BackgroundSelf-citationThe Neurodiversity Approach(es): What Are They and What Do They Mean for Researchers?
Dwyer, P. (2022) · Human Development · doi:10.1159/000523723 · Cited by 672 · see citing works
What are the autism research priorities of autistic adults in Scotland?
Cage, E., Crompton, C. J., Dantas, S., Strachan, K., Birch, R., Robinson, M., Morgan-Appel, S., MacKenzie-Nash, C., Gallagher, A., & Botha, M. (2024) · Autism · doi:10.1177/13623613231222656 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
“Analysis of Australian autism research funding identified that 27% focused on biological research and 20% on treatments and interventions between 2013 and 2017 (den Houting & Pellicano, 2019).”
BackgroundDavies, J., Romualdez, A. M., Malyan, D., Heasman, B., Livesey, A., Walker, A., Pellicano, E., & Remington, A. (2024) · Autism in Adulthood · doi:10.1089/aut.2022.0087 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- den Houting, J., & Pellicano, E.
- Affiliations
- Autism CRC (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2019-08-02
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 4400-4408
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2966196890
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 3.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (0.011RS)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › scientometrics and bibliometrics research
- Keywords
- autism research funding, research funding priorities, community priorities, research portfolio analysis, Australia, translational research
- MeSH terms
- Australia, Autistic Disorder, Humans, Research Support as Topic, Biomedical Research
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