Notice how the same graphic is used for this study as Spark for Autism. It’s literally the same idea.

Spectrum 10k is yet another DNA collection of autistic DNA. This time its being brought out by the Autism Research Center.  University of Cambridge (David Rowitch), Autism Research Centre (Simon Baron-Cohen, Carrie Allison, Varun Warrier, Isabelle Garvey, Armandina (Mina) Almanza Gutierrez, Paula Smith), Wellcome Sanger Institute (Matthew Hurles, Hiliary Martin), and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) (Daniel Gecshwind) are leading it.  It is supposedly the largest study of autism in the United Kingdom.

Spectrum 10k aims to investigate genetic and environmental factors that contribute  to the wellbeing of autistic individuals and their families. We hope 10,000 autistic people and, where possible, thier families will take part.”

It has been proven time and time again that autism is purely genetic. The “environmental factors” they are talking about is that bogus testosterone link. This attacks everyone who has polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is a known common comorbidity with autism.

They are including autistic people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and intellectual abilities. They only want residents of the UK and they must have a clinical diagnosis. Registered autistics can invite biological relatives (autistic or allistic) to participate.

How to participate is pretty much the same as Spark for Autism. Sign up online, receive a DNA test kit and send it back via the mail. After signing up, there is a online survey that must be filled out that takes 30 minutes to complete. If they really want autistic help, why are they making it so much work?

THE PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT PAID

They reiterate that they are not looking for a cure but they want autistic DNA. The very person taking the lead in this project is searching for the DNA link to autism so he can create a prenatal test. Why else would you want a prenatal test for autism unless it goes down the same route as Down syndrome?

The study will not look for a cute for autism and does not aim to eradicate autism. Every member of the Spectrum 10k team values and respects autistic difference and are working to promote inclusion, acceptance and dignity for autistic people throughout society. 

How is this true when the leading researcher has been searching for a prenatal test? Using identity first language and neurodiversity language is just a ploy to draw more people in.

This is how they explain it:

They are asked :

Do you aim to develop genetic testing for autism?

This study does not aim to develop a test for autism. Through increased understanding of genetic and environmental influences and mechanisms, which underlie autism, we hope to develop pathways for improved diagnosis and medical support. However, future knowledge may lead to improved diagnosis through genetic testing. We believe autism is an integral part of human neurodiversity and therefore are ethically opposed to any form of eugenics. 

That was a lot of words for yes and we will talk in circles to confuse you.

What they say only in the fine print is that they are making this database to share with other researchers and it can be disclosed without the participants consent. The name will not be attached to the genetic information. So, the very basic thing that makes up an individual is being shared and sold to other researchers. If that isn’t being violated, nothing else is.

They will only share it with external academic researchers that “aim to make valuable contributions to autism research.” This can mean anything coming from these people. Would you want your DNA contributing to the prenatal test that causes autistic babies to be aborted?

In another paragraph they say that they do share data with commercial collaborators. It is optional but the participant needs to know to opt out of it. Not everyone will think of this when signing up for it. They are preying on people and using thier DNA. These commercial collaborators could be to help epilepsy or to alleviate gut difficulty (again with autistic poop?). They cannot be completely clear on what this means.

“We will carefully review all requests to use Spectrum 10k data; anonymized data will be shared with research groups that have received ethical approval and who’s aims are in line with our efforts to improve the well being of autistic people.”

Does not feel trustworthy.

They will receive the saliva, analyze it and will be stored on the servers at the University of Cambridge and password protected. All of know from using the internet, that can be hacked. Nothing will be traced to the donor but that is still their DNA code.

Participants will not receive feedback on thier individual genetic data. So they aren’t paying the individuals for thier genetic code and they aren’t getting feedback on how their genetic code is helping? Got it.

They are disguising it as protecting the poor, fragile autistics:

We understand that some autistic individuals and thier family members would like to receive feedback about thier DNA. However, we do not currently have the facilities to provide feedback on your genetic data in an ethical manner that minimizes distress with the right support and counseling services. For this reason we arecurrently unable to provide feedback on your genetic data. We may consider developing an infrastructure in the future.

In other words, we won’t do it but we say we may to keep the autistics quiet.

They do not allow access for the participants to access their own genetic data.

They are not sequencing genetic code.

Parents are consenting for their young children. Once the parents consent to this and the child grows up, it cannot be taken back. That is a huge betrayal of trust. I would never give away my kids DNA. I would hope other parents feel the same but autistic children and vulnerable adults are being abused with various substances every day by their loved ones.

Instead of wasting time and resources on trying to find out why we are autistic, why not spend the time and research on what can improve our lives? Its not rocket science, researchers need to do what is right and not constantly try to fix us.

Update 9/10/21 Study has been Paused!

An apology and an update

I am writing on behalf of the Spectrum 10K research team, including the co-lead researchers, to provide a further update regarding the study. From the feedback we have received from autistic people, their families, and charities we can see that we need much wider consultation, that we were not clear enough about the aims of the study, and that aspects of our study need further discussion. We apologise unreservedly for these issues and for any distress that they have caused.

Pausing whilst we listen

We have decided to pause any further recruitment of new participants into Spectrum 10K. We will also not analyse any data already collected in Spectrum 10K. This will give us time to co-design and conduct a meaningful consultation with autistic people and their families and incorporate suggestions for how to improve Spectrum 10K. This may take several months. Details of the consultation will be announced on our website.

Anyone who wishes to register their interest in Spectrum 10K during the pause will be able to do so here. We will not send out any new saliva kits until the consultation is complete. If you have received a saliva kit you can send us a saliva sample that we will store securely (without any genetic analysis) until the consultation is complete.  

The University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Trust, and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (co-sponsor of the study) are all fully supportive of us pausing Spectrum 10K to undertake this listening. They recognise the study’s scientific importance and that there has been no breach in the protocol as approved by the NHS research ethics committees. This pause reflects that we want to listen to and address concerns.

Thank you

Thank you to those autistic people and their families who have shown their support for the study and continue to do so. We hope that together with autistic people and their families we can address the concerns.

Are they listening? Are they going to consult with the autistic community? Will they admit that this study can lead to the eradication of autism from the planet much like the prenatal test for Down Syndrome? Only time will tell. Keep fighting the good fight.

The HRA Responds

How HRA Complaint is Handled

Complaint about Spectrum 10k

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