Autism BrainNet
Autism BrainNet is a non-profit, Simons Foundation–funded program that collects, processes, and distributes postmortem brain tissue from autistic donors to qualified autism researchers worldwide through three U.S. nodes and a Canadian partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Autism BrainNet does
Autism BrainNet is a non-profit research program dedicated to advancing the understanding of autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions through the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of postmortem brain tissue. Established in 2014 and wholly funded by the Simons Foundation through its Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), the program operates a network of three regional nodes in the United States — Sacramento (UC Davis MIND Institute), Boston (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center), and Dallas (UT Southwestern Medical Center) — plus an international collaboration with the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank in Montreal. Each node coordinates donation logistics through medical examiners, coroners, and a 24/7 hotline (1-877-333-0999), and performs standardized tissue processing under unified protocols.
The program's core products are the Autism BrainNet Collection (a centralized repository of postmortem brain tissue with associated clinical and developmental histories), the Tissue Application Service (an online portal for researchers to request samples), the Tissue Catalogue (a searchable inventory of available specimens), and Brain Donation Coordination (a clinical team guiding families through recovery, shipping, and aftercare). Supporting capabilities include genotyping, donor family resources, a Donor Aftercare program, the Memories of Hope memorial, and educational content via newsletters, webinars, and a video library. Over 200 brains have been collected to date, with 37 donations received in 2020 alone. All tissue requests are reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee based on scientific quality and mission alignment.
Autism BrainNet does not operate a commercial revenue model; brain donation is free for families and the program covers all recovery and shipping costs. The organization is fully funded by the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International, with no external investors, pricing tiers, or publicly traded securities. Its distribution channels are operationally diverse — direct researcher relationships, advocacy organization partnerships, forensic professional networks, and organ procurement organization collaborations — but financially dependent on a single foundation source.
Autism BrainNet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Autism BrainNet
- Legal name
- Autism BrainNet (Simons Foundation)
- Website
- https://autismbrainnet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Autism BrainNet is a non-profit, Simons Foundation–funded program that collects, processes, and distributes postmortem brain tissue from autistic donors to qualified autism researchers worldwide through three U.S. nodes and a Canadian partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Autism BrainNet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Brain Tissue Bank
- NAICS
- Blood and Organ Banks (621991)
- SIC
- Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations (BPAGACAJ)
Keywords
Where Autism BrainNet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Autism BrainNet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Foundation funding: Autism BrainNet is a fully funded program of the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). The program does not generate commercial revenue but is funded by the Simons Foundation to advance autism research through brain tissue donation coordination.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Autism BrainNet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Autism BrainNet coordinates postmortem brain tissue donations from individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions. It processes, stores, and distributes donated tissue through a network of three U.S. regional nodes plus an international partnership in Canada, supplying qualified researchers worldwide after review by an independent Scientific Review Committee. The program operates a 24/7 donation hotline, offers genotyping, and covers all costs for donor families while providing tissue free of charge to researchers.
Product overview
Autism BrainNet is a collaborative brain tissue donation and research coordination program, not a traditional software product. It operates as a network of three U.S. regional nodes (Sacramento, Boston, Dallas) plus international partnerships (Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank) that collectively manage postmortem brain donations from autistic individuals. The core offering consists of the Autism BrainNet Collection (brain tissue repository), Tissue Application Service (researcher request portal), and Tissue Catalogue (sample inventory system), supported by a 24/7 donation coordination hotline and clinical team. The program distributes tissue to qualified researchers worldwide following Scientific Review Committee evaluation. Supporting resources include Science & News articles, the Memories of Hope donor memorial, donor family resources, and an educational Video Library. Autism BrainNet was established in 2014 and is funded by the Simons Foundation through SFARI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200 brains collected to date supporting autism research globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Autism BrainNet
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Autism BrainNet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Autism BrainNet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Douglas-Bell Canada Brain BankcoreCollaboration established May 2019 with the Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank at Douglas Mental Health University Institute (McGill University affiliate). Enables Canadian families to donate brains for autism research. DBCBB houses over 3,000 brains and is one of the most important brain banks in the world.
- Medical examiners, coroners, and pathologistscoreCollaboration with forensic professionals who identify potential donor cases and facilitate the donation process. Critical for reaching donor families at time of death.
- Organ procurement organizationsmajorPartnership to raise awareness about brain donation, which is not included in standard organ donation registration.
- Family advocacy organizationsmajorOrganizations including Dup15q Alliance, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation, and Foundation for Prader-Willi Research that rely on Autism BrainNet for brain donation services for their communities.
- Autism Science FoundationmajorProvides outreach and communication support to Autism BrainNet, helping explain the importance of the program to families and individuals with autism. Produces podcasts explaining scientific information to the public.
- NIH NeuroBioBankminorPartnership for tissue acquisition, including access to brains from the University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank and Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Autism BrainNet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Autism Science Foundation: Autism-focused nonprofit that supports research funding and provides outreach and communication support to Autism BrainNet. Operates as a complementary autism research organization rather than a direct tissue bank competitor.
- Autism Speaks: Major autism advocacy and research funding organization that co-founded Autism BrainNet in 2014 before the program transitioned to sole Simons Foundation funding. Operates as a broader autism organization with advocacy, research, and services programs.
- Allen Institute for Brain Science: Major nonprofit brain research organization conducting large-scale neuroscience research and data generation. Operates as a broader brain research platform than Autism BrainNet's specific tissue bank focus.
- Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI): Parent program and primary funder of Autism BrainNet. Funds a broad portfolio of autism research beyond just brain tissue banking, including genetics, cognition, and translational research.
Regional players
- Sydney Brain Bank: Australian brain bank at Neuroscience Research Australia focused on neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Operates a similar brain tissue bank model but serves the Australian/Oceania region rather than competing directly with Autism BrainNet in North America.
Direct peers
- Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center: McLean Hospital-based brain bank providing postmortem brain tissue for neurological and psychiatric research. Direct partner of Autism BrainNet via NIH NeuroBioBank collaboration.
- Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank: Canadian brain bank at Douglas Mental Health University Institute (McGill University affiliate) housing over 3,000 brains. Direct strategic partner of Autism BrainNet since May 2019, enabling Canadian donations for autism research.
- NIH NeuroBioBank: US federal network of brain tissue repositories providing researchers with postmortem human brain tissue for neurological and psychiatric research. Autism BrainNet directly partners with NIH NeuroBioBank nodes and serves a similar function as a tissue bank.
- UK Brain Banks Network: Network of brain banks across the UK coordinated through the Medical Research Council for neurological and psychiatric research. Operates a similar distributed hub model for brain tissue collection and distribution as Autism BrainNet.
- University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank: NIH NeuroBioBank node providing postmortem brain and tissue samples for research. Direct partner of Autism BrainNet for autism-related tissue acquisition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Autism BrainNet social profiles
Digital presenceAutism BrainNet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Autism BrainNet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Autism BrainNet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Autism BrainNet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Autism BrainNet
What does Autism BrainNet do?
Autism BrainNet coordinates postmortem brain tissue donations from individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions. It processes, stores, and distributes donated tissue through a network of three U.S. regional nodes plus an international partnership in Canada, supplying qualified researchers worldwide after review by an independent Scientific Review Committee. The program operates a 24/7 donation hotline, offers genotyping, and covers all costs for donor families while providing tissue free of charge to researchers.
Is Autism BrainNet a public or private company?
Autism BrainNet is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Autism BrainNet founded?
Autism BrainNet was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Autism BrainNet based?
Autism BrainNet is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Autism BrainNet make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation funding.
Who are Autism BrainNet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Autism Science Foundation, Autism Speaks, Allen Institute for Brain Science and Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). Sydney Brain Bank is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank, NIH NeuroBioBank, UK Brain Banks Network and University of Maryland Brain and Tissue Bank.
Does Autism BrainNet have an API?
No public API is recorded for Autism BrainNet.
What industry is Autism BrainNet in?
Autism BrainNet's product category is Brain Tissue Bank. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAJ, Blood, Organ & Tissue Donation Organizations. Its NAICS code is 621991 and its SIC code is 8071.