Our Purpose
The New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJACE) grant was awarded to Children’s Specialized Hospital (PI: Wayne Fisher) in July, 2023 by the Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism , with Rutgers University and Autism New Jersey as collaborating institutions.
The goals of the NJACE are to improve health outcomes of autistic individuals at all life stages with a focus on community-oriented research tailored to the autism community and their needs. We aim to address the complex and unique features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by promoting increased communication and collaboration amongst autism researchers, educators, practitioners and autistic individuals and their families.
Core activities include using data to drive measurable health improvements, identifying and targeting vulnerable populations for interventions to eliminate health disparities, and promoting collaboration across disciplines to develop relevant public policies and achieve health equity.
The NJACE prioritizes research and training focusing on:
- Transitions to adulthood, including health care, educational pursuits, and employment
- Developmental support services (e.g., early identification, co-occurring ID)
- Use of data to drive measurable health improvements
- Identifying and targeting vulnerable populations for interventions to address health disparities
- Promotion of collaboration across sectors to develop health policies and achieve health equity