Autism Speaks Applauds the Release of Autism-Specific NIH Research Grants Funded Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 30, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, applauded the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increasing their commitment to fund autism research. As a result of the stimulus plan recently instituted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the NIH received more than $10 billion in new funding over the next two years. With the increased prevalence of autism and a history of insufficient federal funding for autism research, Autism Speaks recently urged the NIH to commit $200 million of this funding to autism research over the next two years. The money would support studies focused on identifying the genetic and environmental causes and development of effective treatments throughout the lifespan, as well as support for the creation of biorepositories, comparative effectiveness research and fellowships.
The government's response provides extensive research opportunities to examine the causes, biology, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “Autism research has historically been underfunded,” said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president. “Along with the entire autism community, we worked diligently to pass the Combating Autism Act of 2006, develop a viable strategic plan with the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) during 2008 and make federal health agencies more accountable for addressing the autism crisis. The NIH stimulus funding provides a great opportunity to further accelerate progress.”
Autism Speaks had significant input on the IACC strategic plan which helped shaped the research priorities targeted by the Recovery Act funds. The IACC's strategic plan will help move the science forward sooner than anticipated in addressing some of the most significant challenges to understanding and treating ASD. “The IACC strategic plan identifies important research initiatives that hold tremendous promise for improving of the lives of individuals with autism,” said Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks chief science officer.
The recent ARRA legislation provides an unprecedented level of funding to the NIH to help stimulate the U.S. economy through the support and advancement of scientific research. While NIH Institutes and Centers have broad flexibility to invest in many types of grant programs, under the ARRA they will particularly focus on projects that will stimulate the economy, create or retain jobs, and have the potential for making scientific progress in 2 years. The NIH plans to: 1) Select recently peer reviewed highly meritorious research grant applications that can be accomplished in 2 years or less; 2) Fund new research applications; 3) Accelerate the tempo of ongoing science through targeted administrative and competitive supplements to current grants; 4) Support new types of activities such as the NIH Challenge Grant program that meet the goals of the ARRA; and 5) Use other funding mechanisms as appropriate.
Specific Challenge Grants programs related to ASD were released in early March 2009. These two-year, rapid turnaround opportunities include research studies of biomarkers; screening and interventions; comparative effectiveness; genetic and environmental exposures; among other important areas. Autism Speaks is circulating information about these opportunities to researchers in the field.
After the first round of announcements, the NIH committed an additional $60 million from ARRA to support autism research and focus particular attention on the heterogeneity in ASD. This emphasis meets objectives set forth earlier this year in the IACC strategic plan. Dr. Dawson applauded the efforts of the NIH “This is a prime opportunity to help remedy the historical disparity in autism funding by dedicating a significant amount of new NIH funding to truly innovative and promising autism research.” The most recent research initiatives support a range of research topics such as developing and testing diagnostic screening tools for different populations; assessing risk from prenatal or early life exposures; addressing medical issues faced by individuals with autism; initiating clinical trials to test early interventions; or adapting existing, effective pediatric treatments for older children, teens and adults with ASD. Given the two-year time limits, ARRA funds will be important for jumpstarting projects and building the infrastructure or foundation for longer-term autism research efforts.
Autism Speaks is pleased with the extent to which NIH has emphasized ASD in the ARRA program areas. “By allocating this significant amount of new research dollars to autism-related science, President Obama will be making an important down payment on fulfilling his campaign platform pledge to double research spending during his first term, and to increase the overall federal autism budget to $1 billion per year,” concluded Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks.
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 division 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.
The government's response provides extensive research opportunities to examine the causes, biology, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “Autism research has historically been underfunded,” said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president. “Along with the entire autism community, we worked diligently to pass the Combating Autism Act of 2006, develop a viable strategic plan with the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) during 2008 and make federal health agencies more accountable for addressing the autism crisis. The NIH stimulus funding provides a great opportunity to further accelerate progress.”
Autism Speaks had significant input on the IACC strategic plan which helped shaped the research priorities targeted by the Recovery Act funds. The IACC's strategic plan will help move the science forward sooner than anticipated in addressing some of the most significant challenges to understanding and treating ASD. “The IACC strategic plan identifies important research initiatives that hold tremendous promise for improving of the lives of individuals with autism,” said Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks chief science officer.
The recent ARRA legislation provides an unprecedented level of funding to the NIH to help stimulate the U.S. economy through the support and advancement of scientific research. While NIH Institutes and Centers have broad flexibility to invest in many types of grant programs, under the ARRA they will particularly focus on projects that will stimulate the economy, create or retain jobs, and have the potential for making scientific progress in 2 years. The NIH plans to: 1) Select recently peer reviewed highly meritorious research grant applications that can be accomplished in 2 years or less; 2) Fund new research applications; 3) Accelerate the tempo of ongoing science through targeted administrative and competitive supplements to current grants; 4) Support new types of activities such as the NIH Challenge Grant program that meet the goals of the ARRA; and 5) Use other funding mechanisms as appropriate.
Specific Challenge Grants programs related to ASD were released in early March 2009. These two-year, rapid turnaround opportunities include research studies of biomarkers; screening and interventions; comparative effectiveness; genetic and environmental exposures; among other important areas. Autism Speaks is circulating information about these opportunities to researchers in the field.
After the first round of announcements, the NIH committed an additional $60 million from ARRA to support autism research and focus particular attention on the heterogeneity in ASD. This emphasis meets objectives set forth earlier this year in the IACC strategic plan. Dr. Dawson applauded the efforts of the NIH “This is a prime opportunity to help remedy the historical disparity in autism funding by dedicating a significant amount of new NIH funding to truly innovative and promising autism research.” The most recent research initiatives support a range of research topics such as developing and testing diagnostic screening tools for different populations; assessing risk from prenatal or early life exposures; addressing medical issues faced by individuals with autism; initiating clinical trials to test early interventions; or adapting existing, effective pediatric treatments for older children, teens and adults with ASD. Given the two-year time limits, ARRA funds will be important for jumpstarting projects and building the infrastructure or foundation for longer-term autism research efforts.
Autism Speaks is pleased with the extent to which NIH has emphasized ASD in the ARRA program areas. “By allocating this significant amount of new research dollars to autism-related science, President Obama will be making an important down payment on fulfilling his campaign platform pledge to double research spending during his first term, and to increase the overall federal autism budget to $1 billion per year,” concluded Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks.
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 division 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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