Russell Shilling Leads New Federal Autism Initiative
The experimental psychologist will head a federal ARPA-H project focused on autism care and diagnosis.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Autism
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Experimental psychologist Russell Shilling has been tapped to lead a new federal initiative under ARPA-H dedicated to autism care and diagnosis. Shilling, who maintains an office in Fairfax, Virginia, brings a background in advanced mental health technology to the project.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to leverage innovative psychological and technological research to improve diagnostic and care outcomes for individuals with autism. Shilling brings extensive experience from his prior work in clinical mental health development to this federal effort.
Russell Shilling spent 6 years working with Sesame Street prior to this appointment. The scope of his work at the initiative is currently being defined as he transitions from his previous defense-sector research roles.
The players
Russell Shilling
He is an experimental psychologist and former United States Navy service member who previously developed mental health technologies at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
ARPA-H
This federal agency is the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, tasked with driving biomedical and health research innovations.
The details
Shilling is an experimental psychologist who previously worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he developed virtual reality therapy for Iraq War veterans with PTSD. He also built early mental health chatbots designed to destigmatize clinical care.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: The initiative announcement was made public.
The Big Picture
The project follows a pattern set by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health by applying defense-derived tech to civilian health challenges.
The initiative may eventually lead to new diagnostic tools or therapeutic technologies for individuals on the autism spectrum. These advancements could improve access to personalized mental health support in clinical settings.
The takeaway
Shilling's appointment highlights a growing trend of integrating behavioral psychology with high-tech solutions to address complex health conditions. This shift suggests that future care models will increasingly rely on data-driven and digital therapeutic approaches.
Further reading
Learn more about current research and support initiatives by visiting the Autism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by STAT.
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