What is autism spectrum disorder?
People with ASD have difficulties in two main areas: social communication and interaction; and restricted or repetitive behaviour, interests and activities. Autism is most commonly diagnosed in the first few months of life, and no two people with autism are the same.
Read more about autismKey statistics
Unknown cause
The underlying cause of autism is unknown.
1 in 70
1 in 70 Australians may develop autism
350,000
Currently around 350,000 Australians are affected by autism, up 40% since 2014
Our autism research
In some cases, autism spectrum disorder can be traced back to a single gene, but those cases are rare. A team of Garvan researchers, led by Dr Robert Weatheritt is beginning to explore beyond single genetic changes and investigate how the DNA, and in particular protein-coding regions, are controlled and expressed.
Read more about our autism research