About SPARK Research
Date Revised: May 7, 2026
SPARK is a long-term research study with a mission to better understand the complexities of autism – why people have autism, what makes them the same and what makes them different, and how people with autism change over time. With over 400,000 participants, SPARK is the largest study of autism ever!
SPARK’s unparalleled scale positions it for a bold new chapter: one that will advance both genetic and phenotypic insights, support more robust and reproducible science, and move the field closer to precision approaches to care. This scale is transforming what is possible in autism research, enabling scientists to study autism’s complexity with the statistical power needed to drive significant discoveries.
SPARK has transitioned from whole-exome sequencing to whole-genome sequencing. Whole exome sequencing reads only the small portion of DNA that contains protein-coding genes (about 1% to 2% of the genome), whereas whole genome sequencing reads all of a person’s DNA, including protein-coding genes and the vast stretches of ‘non-coding’ DNA that help control how those genes work. This shift aims to illuminate how the entire genome contributes to autism. As more people join SPARK and contribute saliva samples to provide DNA, scientists will continue to learn more about these critical genetic contributions.
In addition to genetic data, SPARK collects valuable data, such as clinical and behavioral information, from participants through standardized measures and surveys. SPARK aims to understand co-occurring conditions, language development, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors. SPARK adheres to the highest standards of research ethics to protect the privacy and the security of the data.
PARTICIPATION
Who Can Participate?
SPARK is open to all people living in the U.S. with a professional diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their family members. You can join SPARK if you are an independent adult with a professional diagnosis of ASD, or if you are the legal guardian of a person of any age with a professional diagnosis of ASD.
You can join and participate in the study online from the comfort of your home and receive support, if necessary, from one of SPARK’s clinical sites or from our help desk. When you join SPARK and log in, you will see your SPARK dashboard. This is a place where you can see the research activities that we have assigned to you, track the status of your saliva kit, and retrieve any personalized reports.
Interested in joining SPARK? Here’s what you should know.
What Happens When You Join SPARK?
When you join the SPARK study, you will be asked to share information about your autism journey through scientific surveys, genetic research, and Research Match studies. You can choose which activities you would like to participate in.
If you consent to participate in our genetic research, SPARK will mail you a saliva collection kit. After you return it, we will then evaluate your sample to see if there is a genetic change related to autism. You can also choose whether you would like to be informed and speak to a genetic counselor, free of charge, if we find a change. Learn more about this process.
WHAT SPARK IS LEARNING
SPARK hopes to improve lives through better diagnosis, services and treatments, and acceptance. Using scientific methods, SPARK learns about these aspects of autism by studying the information provided by the community on our research surveys and by analyzing DNA provided by participants.
WHAT SPARK GIVES BACK
SPARK participants are our partners and should be fully informed about our research results. SPARK ensures that participants have opportunities to learn about these results by providing:
- Personalized reports on the SPARK dashboard.
- Research Match reports about SPARK’s Research Match studies.
- Articles and webinars about SPARK’s research and other topics of importance to the community.
- Family stories about the autism journey of SPARK participants.
- Scientific publications, which are made possible thanks to the community’s participation.
- Completion incentives, such as Amazon gift cards, for some SPARK study tasks.
In addition, SPARK works with participants and other community members to guide our research and communications.
SPARK staff also provide help and information. As a current or potential research participant, you can ask our help desk questions, and a staff member will get back to you quickly.
SPARK RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Researchers use SPARK data and SPARK Research Match to investigate a wide variety of topics—from genetic changes to school services—and they publish their findings in scientific journals. Thanks to your participation, SPARK has more than 250 research publications. Learn more.
SPARK RESEARCH MATCH
SPARK Research Match is a service that matches qualified members of the SPARK community to autism research studies. It provides the opportunity to participate in studies led by researchers throughout the U.S. and internationally. A wide variety of researchers use Research Match to find potential participants who are willing to volunteer for their online or in person studies. Participants get the chance to be represented in research and hear about studies that are appropriate for them. And, we can all learn more about autism. Learn more.
SIMONS SEARCHLIGHT
People who get certain genetic findings from SPARK will receive an invitation to join Simons Searchlight as the next step in their research journey. Simons Searchlight is a research program that works with families and researchers around the world to speed up genetics research on autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Learn more.