UF to create Precision Autism Center of Excellence (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) –The University of Florida recently announced the funding for a new clinical care and research center at UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
According to a release from the school, UF will provide $500,000 to found the Precision Autism Center of Excellence. The creation of this center will expand the clinical capacity for the diagnostic evaluation, management, and treatment of children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders.
It will also increase external research funding and support from pharmaceutical and diagnostic genomics companies, the school announced.
In a release, Dr. Linda R. Edwards, dean of the College of Medicine – Jacksonville, said she is optimistic that the Precision Autism Center of Excellence will have a significant effect on health care outcomes.
“We are thrilled to be receiving this opportunity to provide additional support to individuals with autism,” Edwards said. “As the number of children born with autism and related disorders continues to rise, our capacity to diagnose and offer treatment has been stretched.
“Even after diagnosis, access to needed services often gets delayed. Knowing that the center will enhance our capacity to offer care adds hope and excitement for the future.”
The project is part of almost $10.9 million in the third round of funding for an initiative the school said is designed to advance interdisciplinary scholarship and enhance the student experience.
“These exceptional initiatives will not only elevate UF’s standing as a national research leader but also transform lives here in Florida and around the world,” President Ben Sasse said in a release. “UF continues to put this strategic funding to excellent use. We are facing and solving some of the biggest problems of our generation through the kind of interdisciplinary, collaborative work that will change lives for years to come.”
The release says that as UF received $130 million in new funding from the Florida Legislature this year, Sasse established that more than half of the funds would be directed to units for special strategic projects. A total of $24 million was delivered to deans to report back on their strategic uses of funds, and another $50 million was made available across all colleges and administrative units.
UF received more than 250 submissions, and 36 proposals have been selected so far and announced in three rounds. The Jacksonville project was one of those selected.