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John Spiro

Senior Vice President & Senior Scientist, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) at Simons Foundation

John Spiro is the Senior Vice President & Senior Scientist at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), a division of the Simons Foundation.3 He joined the Simons Foundation in 2007 and served as the Deputy Scientific Director until 2020.1 In this role, he worked closely with the SFARI director to oversee all aspects of the foundation's autism research initiatives.1

Spiro earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Haverford College and his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.14 His research background is in cellular and systems neuroscience, with a focus on linking cellular neurobiology to behavior.14

Before joining the Simons Foundation, Spiro had a career in scientific publishing. He worked as an editor at Nature Neuroscience and later as a senior editor on the biology team at Nature, where he oversaw editorial decisions and peer review for neuroscience manuscripts.4

At SFARI, Spiro has been involved in various initiatives, including:

  1. Launching requests for applications
  2. Evaluating research proposals
  3. Organizing scientific workshops and meetings
  4. Overseeing SFARI.org
  5. Helping launch the Simons Variation in Individuals Project (now Simons Searchlight)
  6. Spearheading efforts to promote the use of preprints in life sciences
  7. Promoting open data sharing initiatives1

As of 2025, Spiro continues to play a significant role in SFARI's mission to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders through innovative research funding.25

Highlights

Nov 1 · x.com
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative - X
Mar 7 · sfari.org
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative | SFARI
Aug 17 · youtube.com
An Introduction to Simons Foundation Autism Research ... - YouTube
An Introduction to Simons Foundation Autism Research ... - YouTube
John Spiro - National Science and Technology Medals Foundation
SFARI Programs - Simons Searchlight
Mar 8 · autism.unc.edu
John Spiro, Ph.D. - UNC Autism Research Center
John Spiro, Ph.D. - UNC Autism Research Center
Kelsey Martin to Lead the Simons Foundation Autism Research ...
Oct 30 · en.wikipedia.org
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative - Wikipedia

Related Questions

What are John Spiro's main responsibilities at the Simons Foundation?
How has John Spiro contributed to the Simons Variation in Individuals Project?
What initiatives has John Spiro spearheaded regarding preprints in the life sciences?
Can you provide more details about the Simons Searchlight project?
What is the role of SFARI Gene in autism research?
John Spiro
John Spiro, photo 1
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Location

New York, New York, United States