Consultancy for strengthening and consolidation of participatory and inclusive research in autisms through groups BEpI and Multiple Seeds.

• Grant number: 24/17676-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: February 14, 2025
• End date: March 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health
• Principal Investigator: Taiza Stumpp Teixeira
• Grantee: Taiza Stumpp Teixeira
• Visiting researcher: Nina Wallerstein
• Visiting researcher institution: University Of New Mexico/Unm, United States
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, the BepI group (Biopsychosocial Epigenetics and its Inheritance) is developing a research project funded by FAPESP (Proc. 2022/14195-7), which aims to study the expression of microRNAs in blood samples and oral mucosa cells of autistic individuals, as well as in the sperm of parents of autistic individuals. One of the great challenges of this type of study in the autistic community is the mobilization of participants, since the demands of the daily life of families are already quite intense. Thus, this project was built in a participatory way, that is, including the communities of autistic individuals and their families in its elaboration. This form of action was based on a course taught by Prof. Nina Wallerstein in February 2023, in partnership with the School of Public Health of USP, organized by Prof. Rosilda Mendes and Carmen Santana, who will also participate in the activities involved in this proposal. Prof. Nina Wallerstein has extensive experience in participatory and inclusive research, having acted as one of our main references in the development of the group's different projects. In conversations and also during the course on Community-Based Participatory Research held in 2024, we were able to strengthen our interaction with Prof. Nina and identify points from which her contribution could be very valuable to our group, such as guidance in structuring methodologies and strategies to obtain the support of autistic communities, as well as for the continuity of the participation of these communities. Thus, this proposal aims to develop our work in participatory and inclusive research, seeking to promote the expansion of our cohort, as well as to disseminate and consolidate this form of action. To this end, Prof. Nina will participate in meetings, courses and discussions related to the project and participatory methodologies at Unifesp and USP. (AU)