SIDB is a 'virtual' research centre based at the University of Edinburgh, bringing together over 50 principal investigators across 6 research sites. It was founded in 2017, following a generous donation from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). SIDB is a sister centre of the Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities.
SIDB's scientific aims are to:
At SIDB, we believe that there is need for a step-change in autism medicine. There is an absence of effective disease-modifying therapies for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, despite decades of research and billions of dollars spent.
The Centre will promote interaction between clinicians and basic scientists to ensure our research is focused on medically relevant aspects of disease. Integrated fundamental and clinical research programmes are essential to deliver true transformation in translational neuroscience. They must have the explicit objective of improved care for individuals with autism.