Autism Speaks Releases First Strategic Plan for Autism Research
NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 7, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today released its strategic plan for autism research, which outlines its goals and priorities for research funding over the next three years. Autism Speaks, to date, has committed over $130 million in autism science. The Autism Speaks Strategic Plan, developed in consultation with its Scientific Advisory Committee and outside advisors, is focused on innovation and an emphasis on translating discoveries into diagnosis and treatments for individuals living with autism today. Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., chief science officer of Autism Speaks, introduced the Strategic Plan today at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). Visit www.AutismSpeaks.org for comprehensive IMFAR coverage.
“At the core of this plan is a sense of urgency, standards for scientific excellence, involving families as partners, and recognition that persons with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the “heart” of the organization's efforts,” explained Dr. Dawson. The strategic plan details the types of research that will be prioritized in six areas: Etiology, Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, Dissemination, and Bioinformatics as detailed in the executive summary and the complete plan document available at www.AutismSpeaks.org/science.
The key strategic directions include the need for biomarkers that can index meaningful subtypes, point to underlying causes, and help determine which treatments will be helpful for which individuals. The plan seeks a better understanding of gene-environment interactions in the etiology of autism. The plan also seeks to translate genetic and other biological findings into clinically useful tools for risk assessment and treatment discovery. Research under the plan will seek to develop treatments that can be of immediate benefit for alleviating both core symptoms of autism and associated medical conditions and to disseminate treatments already shown to be effective into the broader community. Another key strategic direction is continued investment in large data repositories that can help scientists address the heterogeneity in ASD.
“We want to move as quickly as possible from basic discovery to dissemination of results into the real world. The Autism Speaks mission, which is to improve the future of all individuals with autism spectrum disorders and provide hope for families, guided our strategy. Our mission will not be fulfilled until treatments that are discovered are put into practice and become widely available,” explained Dr. Dawson.
Development of the Strategic Plan was supported with consultations by the Gates Foundation's Fay Twersky, Director of Impact and Planning, and John Peabody, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Global Health Science, at the University of California, San Francisco. The planning process began by carefully reviewing the outcomes of past funding by Autism Speaks, and predecessor organizations Cure Autism Now and the National Alliance for Autism Research, to determine what strategies had been most productive and effective. An external evaluation of Autism Speaks' past science funding efforts and outcomes was provided by the Washington Advisory Group and headed up by Purnell Choppin, M.D., past president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Dawson then convened a series of planning meetings of several working groups comprised of scientific experts, stakeholders, and staff who each discussed different areas of potential research focus. The final plan was evaluated and finalized by Autism Speaks' Scientific Advisory Committee.
The Strategic Plan features a significant emphasis on innovation. “One of the advantages of being a private organization is that Autism Speaks can take more risks to move science in novel directions,” remarked Glenn Rall, Ph.D., a microbiologist and associate professor, University of Pennsylvania, and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee. As a result of the plan, later this year, Autism Speaks will be announcing a new grant mechanism that will focus on advancing leading-edge autism research. Autism Speaks intends for the strategic plan to become a living document that will be revised every year as the understanding of autism expands and evolves. “Our knowledge base is rapidly growing. We must remain nimble and quickly respond to new findings and opportunities as they arise,” concluded Dr. Dawson. “We must continually ask where our knowledge is and where we want to be, and refine how our research activities will allow us to bridge that gap.”
About Autism
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks funds more than $30 million each year in new autism research, in addition to supporting the Autism Treatment Network, Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Autism Clinical Trials Network, Autism Tissue Program and a range of other scientific and medical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and an award-winning, multi-year national public service advertising campaign with the Ad Council. Autism Speaks' family services efforts include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit and the distribution of community grants to local service providers. Its government relations department, through its Autism Votes initiative, has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the federal government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to require insurers to cover medically-necessary autism therapies. Each year, Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism fundraising events are held in more than 70 cities across the country, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom.
About the Co-Founders
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. He also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and RAND Corporation. Suzanne Wright has an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic endeavors, mostly directed toward helping children. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is also Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
“At the core of this plan is a sense of urgency, standards for scientific excellence, involving families as partners, and recognition that persons with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the “heart” of the organization's efforts,” explained Dr. Dawson. The strategic plan details the types of research that will be prioritized in six areas: Etiology, Biology, Diagnosis, Treatment, Dissemination, and Bioinformatics as detailed in the executive summary and the complete plan document available at www.AutismSpeaks.org/science.
The key strategic directions include the need for biomarkers that can index meaningful subtypes, point to underlying causes, and help determine which treatments will be helpful for which individuals. The plan seeks a better understanding of gene-environment interactions in the etiology of autism. The plan also seeks to translate genetic and other biological findings into clinically useful tools for risk assessment and treatment discovery. Research under the plan will seek to develop treatments that can be of immediate benefit for alleviating both core symptoms of autism and associated medical conditions and to disseminate treatments already shown to be effective into the broader community. Another key strategic direction is continued investment in large data repositories that can help scientists address the heterogeneity in ASD.
“We want to move as quickly as possible from basic discovery to dissemination of results into the real world. The Autism Speaks mission, which is to improve the future of all individuals with autism spectrum disorders and provide hope for families, guided our strategy. Our mission will not be fulfilled until treatments that are discovered are put into practice and become widely available,” explained Dr. Dawson.
Development of the Strategic Plan was supported with consultations by the Gates Foundation's Fay Twersky, Director of Impact and Planning, and John Peabody, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Global Health Science, at the University of California, San Francisco. The planning process began by carefully reviewing the outcomes of past funding by Autism Speaks, and predecessor organizations Cure Autism Now and the National Alliance for Autism Research, to determine what strategies had been most productive and effective. An external evaluation of Autism Speaks' past science funding efforts and outcomes was provided by the Washington Advisory Group and headed up by Purnell Choppin, M.D., past president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Dawson then convened a series of planning meetings of several working groups comprised of scientific experts, stakeholders, and staff who each discussed different areas of potential research focus. The final plan was evaluated and finalized by Autism Speaks' Scientific Advisory Committee.
The Strategic Plan features a significant emphasis on innovation. “One of the advantages of being a private organization is that Autism Speaks can take more risks to move science in novel directions,” remarked Glenn Rall, Ph.D., a microbiologist and associate professor, University of Pennsylvania, and member of the Scientific Advisory Committee. As a result of the plan, later this year, Autism Speaks will be announcing a new grant mechanism that will focus on advancing leading-edge autism research. Autism Speaks intends for the strategic plan to become a living document that will be revised every year as the understanding of autism expands and evolves. “Our knowledge base is rapidly growing. We must remain nimble and quickly respond to new findings and opportunities as they arise,” concluded Dr. Dawson. “We must continually ask where our knowledge is and where we want to be, and refine how our research activities will allow us to bridge that gap.”
About Autism
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks funds more than $30 million each year in new autism research, in addition to supporting the Autism Treatment Network, Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Autism Clinical Trials Network, Autism Tissue Program and a range of other scientific and medical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and an award-winning, multi-year national public service advertising campaign with the Ad Council. Autism Speaks' family services efforts include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit and the distribution of community grants to local service providers. Its government relations department, through its Autism Votes initiative, has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the federal government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to require insurers to cover medically-necessary autism therapies. Each year, Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism fundraising events are held in more than 70 cities across the country, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom.
About the Co-Founders
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. He also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and RAND Corporation. Suzanne Wright has an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic endeavors, mostly directed toward helping children. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is also Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
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