As the recurrence rate of autism in families where one person is affected is possibly 10-fold higher than that seen in the general population, this group has the unique opportunity to study autism at the earliest stages of life. This makes possible the identification of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that lead to the development of autism. In addition, these projects can have a collective impact on the research and clinical communities by developing recommendations and guidelines that inform clinical practice and policy.

The High Risk Baby Siblings Research Consortium is a partnership between Autism Speaks and the National Institutes of Health, led by the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. Autism Speaks began funding baby sibling research in 1997 and has since committed over $7 million to this project, both in scientific research and programmatic activities.