AGRE for Families

The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) is a gene bank housing data and biomaterials from over 2000 AGRE families, most of whom have two or more children on the autism spectrum. Although for over a decade AGRE has collected most of these materials in the family home, we have now moved into the role of a Data Coordinating Center (DCC), receiving data and biomaterials primarily from outside researchers. As a DCC, AGRE will continue to expand its resource by collaborating with researcher institutions who are working directly with families who have children on the autism spectrum. We will further in our mission to accelerate the pace of autism research by enlarging our resource and continuing to make it available to autism researchers around the world.

*Click here if you are interested in participating in autism research.

Why I Participated in AGRE

When my sons (2 and 4 years old at the time) were first diagnosed it was a nightmare. I had a baby and two very disabled toddlers on my hands. Once they were diagnosed, a flood of early intervention and advocacy services came to our door. This was a huge relief to me and my husband. Up to that point we had been struggling to make the medical community understand that there was something wrong with the boys. Kyle (husband) and I were very happy when AGRE offered to draw blood and add our information to their database. The more good people working on this devastating disease the better we say! So with three children in diapers we began our long journey one day at a time...

Continue reading this family story here.

Questions, comments or concerns?
Please contact agreinfo@autismspeaks.org.