World Autism Awareness Day 2026: How European research is transforming neurodevelopmental care

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by differences in social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors and variations in speech and nonverbal expression. According to the WHO, in 2021 one out of 127 persons worldwide had autism. 

On World Autism Awareness Day, we look at a selection of EU-funded research projects that are advancing our understanding of neurodevelopmental diversity by exploring genetic, biological and environmental factors. 

The R2D2-MH project investigates risk and resilience factors in neurodevelopmental diversity. A key feature of this project is its participatory approach, which involves individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions and allows them to contribute directly to the research. As a result, the members of the co-creation group have recently developed a language guide for research in neurodiversity, promoting the use of scientifically accurate and ethically sound terminology, and moving away from deficit-based language that contributes to the stigmatisation of neurodiverse individuals.

The project has advanced the understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions by focusing on genetics, brain development, imaging, early development and prediction, compiling the largest European multi-scale dataset on early brain development and mental health trajectories. It generated key insights into preterm birth, mental health and resilience. 

R2D2-MH has also developed the ADAPPT app, designed to support parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, which is currently being tested. 

The CANDY project has investigated the underlying links between neurodevelopmental conditions (such as autism, ADHD and intellectual disability) and co-occurring somatic illnesses to improve treatment and monitoring strategies. Genetic factors play an important role in these conditions, and CANDY has improved the understanding of how the immune system and the microbiome (the bacteria in the gut) impact on these genetic factors:  

• It has identified a role of the maternal environment in the development of many neurodevelopmental conditions, with infections in the first trimesters of pregnancy being a common environmental risk factor.
• It has highlighted a possible genetic interplay between gut inflammatory processes and autism. As a result, it has included additional markers such as gut-brain markers in the set of immune profiling markers that it has developed for early diagnosis and monitoring.  

Background   

Horizon Europe is the research and innovation programme of the EU for the period 2021-2027. The aims of Cluster 1 ‘Health’ include improving and protecting the health and well-being of citizens of all ages by generating new knowledge, developing innovative solutions and integrating where relevant a gender perspective to prevent, diagnose, monitor, treat and cure diseases.  Horizon 2020 was the predecessor of Horizon Europe, and it ran from 2014 to 2020. HaDEA manages the legacy Horizon 2020 projects to ensure the completion of this framework programme and supports the auditing process of the finished projects.