Funding and policy

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Stories about research grants, funding models and the business of science

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Future remains uncertain for U.S. federal funding of behavioral, cognitive science

The National Science Foundation did not include any solicitations for its social, behavioral and economic sciences directorate in its latest round of funding opportunities, nor replace any outgoing program officers—which poses an existential threat for the program, says nonprofit executive Wendy Naus.

By Calli McMurray
26 August 2026 | 5 min read
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Neuroscientists weigh in on White House proposal for ‘moonshot infrastructure’ for connectomics

A report from the Trump administration calls for a “new golden age” of science, in which the federal government supports mission-driven collaborations to deliver high returns on research investments.

By Sarah Thau
24 July 2026 | 4 min read
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Study questions DSM-5’s combining of autism traits

Sensory traits and restricted and repetitive behaviors are best understood as distinct but related characteristics, the new work suggests.

By Lauren Schenkman
23 July 2026 | 5 min read
Ilustração de um cientista diante de uma paisagem fragmentada.

Redefinindo a sub-representação na neurociência mundial

Mudar o foco das iniciativas de equidade das categorias identitárias para as barreiras estruturais pode revelar desafios negligenciados e aumentar o apoio e a participação em todo o mundo.

Ilustración del científico frente a un paisaje fracturado.

Redefiniendo la subrepresentación en la neurociencia global

Si se cambia el enfoque de las iniciativas de promoción de equidad desde categorías de identidad a barreras estructurales, se revelan desafíos que habían pasado desapercibidos que pueden aumentar la participación a nivel mundial.

Explore more from The Transmitter

Mouse cortical organoid.

Hasty stem cells highlight potential limitation with cortical organoids

The models recapitulate many key developmental processes, but some radial glial cells in mouse organoids make neurons earlier than they should.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
22 September 2026 | 4 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Two populations of neurons, two effects on sociability; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 21 September.

By Jill Adams
22 September 2026 | 2 min read

Finding the Rett syndrome gene and ways to fix it

Kevin Mitchell talks with Huda Zoghbi about her work identifying the MECP2 gene, its role in the brain and therapies to address its dysfunction.

By Kevin Mitchell
21 September 2026 | 4 min read