Transforming research to improve the quality of life for people with autism and their families
ACAR is a state-of-the-art research centre established in 2017 following a transformational $16-million donation from the Azrieli Foundation.
The centre works to advance research, training and care for people with autism and related conditions.
OUR VISION:
To be a world leading research centre that transforms the lives of people with autism.
OUR MISSION:
We are committed to improving the lives of all affected by autism by:
• Better understanding the mechanisms underlying autism and developing new diagnostic tools and effective interventions through transformative translational research
• Training the next generation of fundamental and clinical autism researchers
OUR VALUES:
ACAR is committed to research excellence and integrity in a spirit of openness, collaboration and accountability, and to realizing opportunities for successful community inclusion.
For the latest news on ACAR, read our Stories
The Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR) – taking the lead
What does ACAR mean for people with autism: opportunities to participate in studies, access to clinical specialists, and hope for new interventions through innovative research models
"The future of our world is in our children. Understanding how the brain develops is key to not only finding treatments and breakthrough discoveries in neurodevelopmental disorders, but it is also key to the future of our society and our world." – Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO, Azrieli Foundation
A Unique Undertaking – integrating autism care and the full spectrum of research
Autism is a complex multifaceted group of conditions, described by the umbrella term autism spectrum disorder. Understanding complex neurodevelopmental conditions like autism require a comprehensive approach. That is where Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR) comes in.
ACAR is a state-of-the-art research centre that unites a critical mass of researchers and clinicians at The Neuro, McGill University and McGill-affiliated institutes in the quest to discover the biological mechanisms underlying autism and advance the development and validation of new interventions to transform the lives of people with autism and their families.
ACAR is unique in integrating specialised clinical care with the full continuum of research tools from genetics to electroencephalography and brain imaging, from experimental models to a clinical research program – all together with the training of autism professionals.
“The strength of ACAR comes from the diversity of clinical and research expertise locally and internationally - working together to tackle autism and improve care for patients and the autism community all over the world.”- Dr. Guy Rouleau, Director of The Neuro and ACAR.
ACAR subscribes to Open Science and makes use of two of The Neuro’s innovative Open Science platforms: the C-BIG Repository and the Early Drug Discovery Unit. This not only aligns with the values of the autism research community of sharing and collaboration, it ensures that research data are freely available to other researchers and clinicians worldwide with the goal of accelerating discoveries in the field.
Autism centre brings together researchers, clinicians, trainees, patients and the community
ACAR launched in 2017 following a transformational $16 million gift from the Azrieli Foundation and set about organizing the centre along key priorities.
The Centre is hiring top-level scientists with an interest and expertise in autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is also brings together experts in related fields who bring their specialized knowledge and range of perspectives from genetics, to brain-imaging, and psychiatry. ACAR is engaging with patients and families, the autism community and partners to develop specialized programs. The Centre is also implementing innovative training programs to prepare the next generation of autism researchers and professionals.
Advanced autism research and care initiatives
New Research Models
ACAR’s researchers are putting their energy into creating new, more refined models of autism. Researchers with expertise in fields such as stem cell technology, genetics, brain imaging, biomarker development and genome sequencing are developing and using new model systems to study what is going on at a genetic or cellular level, and to experiment with interventions that could lead to new effective treatments.
Innovative Clinical Research
ACAR houses a clinical research program that involves participants with autism and their families and operates along the following principles:
- Scientific research and training strengthens high quality care and vice versa
- Early identification is critical
- Life transition periods, for example from youth to adulthood, offer opportunities to intervene for optimal outcomes
- Each person has individual needs that must be respected; we do not use a one-size-fits-all approach
Scientists use this program to advance knowledge, engage in meaningful clinical partnerships and collaborations, and better respond to the needs of people across the autism spectrum and their families. People with autism and their families that are enrolled in research can take advantage of the latest discoveries including novel interventions.
The ACAR Clinic is transforming autism care by providing services across the lifespan through a fully integrated clinical research model. The newly established specialized interdisciplinary autism clinic serves adults and youth in transition to adulthood at The Neuro while pediatric patients are seen at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Douglas Mental Health University Institute provides comprehensive mental health services to patients.
International Collaborations
To create new synergies and bring together a broader range of expertise, ACAR has forged strong international collaborations and developed joint projects with autism research groups at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge in the UK. ACAR is also actively engaging researchers in Israel, as well as nationally in Toronto and Vancouver to pursue specific project collaborations.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Each year a number of ACAR trainees are selected as fellows for the Quebec Autism Training Program (QART). The competitive program trains outstanding graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the latest research techniques and technologies, as well as develops career skills through multiple training opportunities and meaningful engagement with people living with autism, their families and the community. QART also emphasizes community outreach and engagement including trainee-led workshops on topics of interest (e.g. Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity in Science).
Partnership with the Autism Community
ACAR supports an annual autism research conference in Montreal, organized by the Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC), which brings together world-renowned autism experts from academia, healthcare, government officials, policy makers and community leaders. Participants engage in critical discussions on the future of autism care and treatment, new directions in fundamental and clinical research, updates on current research networks and cohorts, and ways for society to empower people living with autism and their families.
Azrieli Foundation
For close to 30 years, the Azrieli Foundation has funded institutions as well as operated programs on the ground. The Foundation supports scientific and medical research, higher education, Holocaust education, youth empowerment and school perseverance, music and the arts, architecture, and quality of life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities. www.azrielifoundation.org
OUR PRIORITIES
ACAR Clinical Research Platform
Specializing in research innovation and integrated care that includes patients and families in the path to advancing discovery
About
The ACAR Clinical Research Platform is located at The Neuro (Room 033).
Using a unique approach that fully integrates research, training and care, the ACAR Clinical Research Platform works to advance knowledge, engage in meaningful clinical partnerships and collaborations, and better respond to the needs of people across the entire autism spectrum and their families.
Principles
The ACAR Clinical Research Platform believes that:
- Scientific research and training strengthens high quality care and vice versa
- Early identification is critical
- Transition periods offer opportunities to intervene for optimal outcomes
- Each person has individual needs that must be respected; we do not use a one-size-fits-all approach
Funding Opportunities
Exploring new research trends, enhancing learning and extending collaborative networks through competitive funding opportunities
Azrieli Awards in Neurodevelopment
Azrieli Awards in Neurodevelopment
This ACAR program offers seed funding through a competitive peer-review process for researchers undertaking innovative translational projects focused on autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Awards are granted to fundamental, clinical, and/or applied sciences projects that can demonstrate concrete advancements in the field and significantly impact the lives of people with autism and their families.
Submission Deadline: June 12, 2020
More information on the 2020 Competition
Previous competitions:
2019
| Applicant | Co-Applicant(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
 Timothy E. Kennedy,The Neuro |
Philippe Campeau, CHU Sainte Justine |
Determine the Role of Netrin-3 in an Autism-Like Neurodevelopmental Disorder |
 Aparna Suvrathan,Centre for Research in Neuroscience, McGill University |
Jesper Sjöström, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, McGill University | Heterogeneity of cerebellar learning rules in Fragile X syndrome |
 Yang Zhou, The Neuro |
Guy Rouleau, Yeming Xie, |
Identifying molecular pathways and neural mechanisms underlying rescue effects of lithium in a mouse ASD model of SHANK3 haploinsufficiency |
Learn more about the applicants and their research projects
2018
| Applicant | Co-Applicant(s) | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Bratislav Misic, Jonathan Smallwood, Michael Milham, Richard Bethlehem, Seok-Jun Hong, Casey Paquola, |
Computational analysis of macroscale hierarchy and microcircuit imbalance in autism: a novel framework to understand phenotypic diversity and transcriptomic associations |
|
|
Keith Murai, Centre for Research in Neuroscience, McGill University | Defining the impact of 16p11.2 microdeletions on cortical interneuron development |
|
|
David Rudko, The Neuro |
“Out of touch”: Altered somatosensation in autism spectrum disorders |
For more information about upcoming funding opportunities, acar.mni [at] mcgill.ca (subject: ACAR%20Funding%20Opportunities) (contact us).
Azrieli Science Grants Program
Azrieli Science Grants Program
The program has three main objectives: 1) To enable scientific advances in basic and translational neuroscience 2) To bring new ideas and talent to the field of neurodevelopmental disorders 3) To catalyze collaborative networks of neuroscience researchers around specific research themes.
“RNA and the Brain” will support research projects that deepen understanding of the molecular events downstream of RNA transcription that diversify gene expression and function in embryonic and early postnatal development of the nervous system. Applications will be evaluated by an international peer-review committee who will score and rank applications and provide recommendations to the Azrieli Foundation.
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2020
More information on the 2020 competition
Azrieli "Back on Track from COVID-19" Grant
Azrieli "Back on Track from COVID-19" Grant
The Azrieli Foundation "Back on Track from COVID-19” grant addresses the interruption to biomedical research laboratories and clinical research as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. The funds are intended to cover additional costs to research incurred by facility shutdown, changes in work plans due to social distancing, assisting graduate student progress to complete research, and overall to partially mitigate the loss of promising discoveries and ideas.
The Back on Track grants are directed towards clinical researchers and laboratory-based scientists working in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Applications may be received in English or French and should be submitted by June 17, 2020.
For more information: Azrieli Foundation Back on Track from COVID-19
International Partnerships
Joint Pilot Project Grant: The University of Edinburgh/McGill University Neuroscience Collaboration
McGill University and The University of Edinburgh have partnered to establish collaborative research and training opportunities in Neuroscience. This partnership focusses on the following three main areas:
- Autism/neurodevelopmental conditions
- Intellectual disabilities (with particular focus on studies using human induced pluripotent stem cells)
- Neurodegenerative diseases.
Within the framework of this collaboration, the partners announce a call for applications for competitive Joint Pilot Project Grants to support collaborative work in the three identified research areas. The objective of these pilot projects will be to build on synergistic interactions between the two universities to establish long-standing collaborations, ideally leading to joint external research grant applications.
The deadline to apply is September 22, 2020.
For more information: 
rfa_2020_joint_pilot_project_grants.pdf
For more information about upcoming funding opportunities, acar.mni [at] mcgill.ca (subject: ACAR%20Funding%20Opportunities) (contact us).
Training and Community
Building and training a highly skilled team of researchers, trainees and clinicians in the field of autism, while actively engaging the wider community
Quebec Autism Research Training (QART) Program
QART is a competitive program that attracts and trains outstanding graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in order to support their career development in their area of choice. QART searches for outstanding trainees carrying out multidisciplinary, innovative or translational projects.
2020 Competition
Program opens: December 4, 2019
Application deadline: February 20, 2019
Results announced: May, 2020
Summer School: August 24-28, 2020
Start of fellowship (if applicable): September 1, 2020
Community Engagement Activities
ACAR connects with researchers, professionals, decision makers, families and community members through its affiliation with the Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC), an FRQS-supported provincial network.
Translational Research
Undertaking comprehensive, collaborative and innovative research programs to increase value and impact of scientific discoveries on people with autism and related conditions and their families
Coming Soon
OUR MEMBERS
ACAR Team
Guy Rouleau,
Director
Mayada Elsabbagh,
Associate Director (Clinical Research)
Stefano Stifani,
Associate Director (Fundamental Research)
Julie Scorah,
ACAR Clinic Associate Director
Full members
Boris Bernhardt
The Neuro, McGill University
Xiaoqian Chai
The Neuro, McGill University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mayada Elsabbagh
McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Wei-Hsiang
Huang
McGill University
Guy Rouleau
The Neuro, McGill University
Julie Scorah
The Neuro, McGill University- Stefano Stifani, The Neuro, McGill University
Aparna Suvrathan
McGill University
Yang Zhou
The Neuro, McGill University
Associate members
Armando Bertone
McGill University, Université de Montréal,
Rivière-des-Prairies Mental Health Research hospital
Marie
Brossard-Racine
The Neuro, McGill University
Jacob Burack
McGill University
Mallar Chakravarty
The Neuro, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Thomas Durcan
The Neuro, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Carl Ernst
McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Alan Evans
The Neuro, McGill University,
Ludmer Center for Neuro-informatics and Mental Health, Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform
Oliver Michael Hardt
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, the University of
Edinburgh
Srividya Iyer
McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Ridha Joober
McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Timothy Kennedy
McGill University
Arkady Khoutorsky
McGill University
Annette Majnemer
McGill University, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Keith Murai
McGill University, Montreal General Hospital
Aparna Nadig
McGill University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Maryam Oskoui
McGill University, Montreal Children's Hospital, American Academy of Neurology
Eve-Marie Quintin
McGill University
Edward Ruthazer
The Neuro, McGill University
Philippe Séguéla
The Neuro, McGill University
Jesper P. Sjostrom
McGill University
Nahum Sonenberg
McGill University
David Stellwagen
McGill University
Lan Xiong
The Neuro, McGill University-
Daniela Buhas
MUHC, McGill University
ACAR Board Members
Naomi Azrieli,
Azrieli Foundation Representative
Martha Crago,
Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, McGill University
David Eidelman,
Dean, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
Mayada Elsabbagh, Associate Director (Clinical Research)
Nicholas Katalifos,
Parent representative
Antonia Maioni,
Dean, Faculty of Arts, McGill University
Christopher Manfredi,
Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), McGill University
Guy Rouleau,
Director, ACAR- Stefano Stifani, Associate Director (Fundamental Research)
Marc Weinstein,
Vice-Principal, Advancement, McGill University- Student representative (To be determined)
OUR PARTNER
The Azrieli Foundation
Members of the Azrieli Foundation, McGill and The Neuro at the launch of the Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, December 2017.
For 25 years, the Azrieli Foundation has funded institutions as well as operated programs on the ground. The Foundation supports scientific and medical research - including ACAR - as well as higher education, Holocaust education, youth empowerment and school perseverance, music and the arts, architecture, and quality of life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities.
CONTACT US
Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR)
3801 University Street, Room 033
Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4
Telephone: 514-398-5728
Email: acar.mni [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Website%20Enquiry)
Directions: Google Maps
