A Nonprofit Research Foundation
Neurodivergence Has Been Misidentified. We're Funding the Research to Correct It.
For decades, neurodivergence has been treated as pathology — a collection of deficits to be corrected. But what if the variable we've been measuring is wrong? What if neurodivergent minds aren't broken versions of neurotypical ones, but fundamentally different operating systems that require different therapeutic approaches? The Cedar Institute funds clinical research into interventions designed for neurodivergent populations — not adapted from neurotypical protocols.
Position Paper
The Misidentified Variable
Neurodivergence is not a deficit. It is a fundamental difference in how the brain processes information, regulates emotion, and experiences the world. Yet for decades, research has treated neurodivergent populations as "broken neurotypicals" — measuring outcomes against neurotypical baselines and adapting interventions designed for neurotypical brains.
This approach has failed. Autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability are over nine times more likely to die by suicide than non-autistic adults. Up to 85% of autistic adults in the U.S. are unemployed or underemployed. Co-occurring mental health conditions are pervasive — not because autistic people are inherently disordered, but because the interventions available to them were never designed for their neurology.
Our position paper, The Misidentified Variable, argues that neurodivergence itself has been misidentified in clinical research. We propose a new framework: neurodivergence-by-postulation — a research methodology that centers neurodivergent experience, measures outcomes that matter to neurodivergent people, and designs interventions from first principles rather than neurotypical adaptation.
Listen to Audio Summary
Our Mission
The Cedar Institute funds clinical research into therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent adults — including psychedelic medicine, neuroplasticity protocols, and trauma-informed care. We don't adapt neurotypical interventions. We design from first principles, centering neurodivergent experience and measuring outcomes that matter to neurodivergent people.
Psychedelic Medicine
We fund clinical trials of psychedelic compounds with pharmacological profiles suited to neurodivergent neurology — including 2C-B, psilocybin, and novel entactogens. Our inaugural research initiative will investigate 2C-B-assisted therapy using the Karame Protocol, a four-domain framework designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent adults.
Neuroplasticity Interventions
Not all therapeutic pathways require psychedelics. We support research into non-pharmacological interventions that leverage neuroplasticity, sensory integration, and trauma-informed protocols — including modalities designed for neurodivergent nervous systems.
Community-Centered Research
All research we fund is neurodivergent-centered — meaning autistic and neurodivergent individuals are involved in study design, consent processes, and interpretation of findings. We measure outcomes that matter to neurodivergent people: reduction in suffering, improvement in quality of life, and restoration of agency.
Why Cedar?
The cedar tree is among the oldest living symbols of shelter, resilience, and endurance. In the ancient forests of Lebanon, cedars were used to build temples and ships — structures meant to last generations. Across the Pacific Northwest, cedar bark sheltered families through harsh winters.
We chose this name because the work we are doing is not a trend. It is a long-term institutional commitment to a population that has waited too long for rigorous science to catch up. The Cedar Institute is built to endure.
The Scale of the Gap
Research estimates that 15–20% of the global population — well over a billion people — are neurodivergent.
Yet current diagnostic frameworks and research methodologies remain insufficient to identify many within this population, particularly adults who were never formally assessed. The lack of awareness and research infrastructure represents a profound gap in global mental health and neuroscience.
This research cannot happen without philanthropic support.