Marcus Autism Center Received $17.25 Million Research Grant
Researchers in Atlanta will use this funding to develop new gene-based treatments for children with severe autism.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Autism
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The Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta has been awarded a $17.25 million grant from Aligning Research to Impact Autism. The center will partner with the Emory School of Medicine to advance medical therapies for children affected by chronic neurodevelopmental conditions.
Why it matters
This initiative aims to address the significant medical needs of children with severe autism, a condition that impacts approximately 600,000 children across the United States. Developing targeted treatments could eventually shift the clinical approach to managing these neurodevelopmental challenges.
The grant supports a multisite research network spanning 10 U.S. locations, one in Canada, and one in England. While this effort focuses on severe autism—which represents about one-quarter of the 2.3 million pediatric autism cases in the U.S.—the findings from this network are still considered early-stage development.
The players
Marcus Autism Center
An Atlanta-based research and treatment facility operating under the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta network.
Emory School of Medicine
A medical education and research institution collaborating on the development of gene-based autism therapies.
Bernie Marcus
The founder of the Marcus Autism Center who established the facility in 1991.
Ami Klin
The director of the Marcus Autism Center who has led the facility since 2011.
The details
The Marcus Autism Center will use the grant to pursue medical treatments focused on gene-based therapies. These therapies aim to address the biological underpinnings of severe autism and other chronic neurodevelopmental conditions. By leveraging its position within the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta network, the center will integrate these research efforts with its existing clinical operations, which currently serve 6,000 children through 65,000 visits annually.
Timeline
1991: Bernie Marcus founded the Marcus Autism Center.
2008: The center joined the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta network.
2011: Ami Klin was recruited as director of the center.
2026: The center received a $21.9 million Marcus Foundation contribution.
- 2026-10-14
The $17.25 million grant from Aligning Research to Impact Autism was announced.
Health Landscape
This grant expands the reach of the Marcus Autism Center's multisite research network to further international collaboration on neurodevelopmental studies. It represents a pivot toward advanced, gene-based medical interventions for a population that has historically been managed primarily through behavioral therapies.
This development reflects a long-term research pipeline rather than an immediate change in clinical care or diagnostic protocols. Families managing severe autism should continue to work with their primary care providers or pediatric specialists to monitor for any new treatment options as research progresses.
The takeaway
The Marcus Autism Center is dedicating significant resources toward identifying the genetic roots of severe neurodevelopmental conditions. Families interested in these developments should maintain an ongoing dialogue with their pediatric specialists regarding the latest research and potential clinical trial eligibility.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research and clinical initiatives at the Autism center.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Atlanta Jewish Times.
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