Brown University autism experts, including psychiatrists and other physicians, biologists and public health researchers, are participating in a major new statewide collaboration to advance research, care, and advocacy for those with the spectrum of disorders. Called RI-CART, for the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment, the organization’s many members include the Lifespan and Care New England health systems, Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island, private nonprofits and state agencies. “Collaborative, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional teams such as RI-CART can be difficult to build, yet are essential for tackling important problems posed by autism,” said Dr. Eric Morrow, assistant professor of biology in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, director of the RI-CART Research Committee and an autism genetics researcher at Bradley Hospital. “The RI-CART group has fostered a clear enthusiasm for working together from the start.” RI-CART’s first project, funded by a $53,000 Rhode Island Foundation grant, will study primary care delivery for 150 adolescents and adults with autism.