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Project NEURON develops curriculum materials for middle and high school teachers to use in their science classrooms. Each unit addresses various science education standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, within the context of neuroscience topics and research performed on the University of Illinois campus. All of our completed materials, which have been classroom-tested and revised, are available on this website to teachers and educators for free. For teachers who wish to engage with our materials hands-on, we also provide professional development opportunities through local workshops and national teaching conferences such as NSTA.

Autism is rooted in genetics, including the mutation of certain genes that result in a failure of neurons in the brain to properly connect. Based on earlier genetic research funded by Autism Speaks, such as the Autism Genome Project (AGP), scientists have discovered some of these genes. But much more gene discovery needs to take place. The Autism Genome 10K Project will mark a substantial leap forward on this journey. The Autism Genome 10K Project builds on the successes of Autism Speaks' Autism Genetic Resource Exchange program (AGRE), a high-quality collection of more than 12,000 DNA samples from families affected by autism. The AGRE program has facilitated many high-impact scientific discoveries in recent years, including the risk genes discovered by the AGP and other researchers. With BGI sequencing the full complement of 10,000 samples collected by AGRE and collaborators in China, Autism Genome 10K leverages BGI's cutting-edge expertise and globally unrivaled capacity for high-quality genome sequencing.