To help you keep up on their efforts, we'll provide a regular digest of the latest scientific and medical research on autism. Because many are reprinted from scientific journals, they may contain technical language. Also note that due to copyright issues, abstracts may link you to sites where the full text of the article is available for a fee.
Remember to check back regularly to find updates on the latest autism research.
AIR-P Steering Committee Meeting Targets Quality Improvement
The AIR-P Steering Committee, which guides the activities of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), an important role served by the Autism Treatment Network (ATN), held its second annual meeting, focused on quality improvement. Date: 07/23/2010
Researchers, Clinicians and Parents Come Together to Learn About "Mitochondrial Autism"
A full-day symposium at the 2010 United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation's annual meeting focused on the links between mitochondria and autism. Presentations about epilepsy, genetics and immunology fueled the discussion among parents, clinicians and researchers.
Date: 07/09/2010
Innovative Technology for Autism Class at USC
Technology is playing a huge and increasing role in childhood development. This semester, Autism Speaks' Innovative Technology for Autism initiative sponsored a class at the University of Southern California (USC) to encourage graduate students to learn more about designing technology specifically for the autism community.
Date: 06/25/2010
New Autism Genes Discovered by the AGP
The Autism Genome Project (AGP) announced Phase 2 research results which identified new autism genes and found individuals with autism carry more copy number variants (CNV) in their genome. These genes appear to cluster around specific biochemical pathways in the brain and, thus, point to new directions for developing drugs that could potentially help recover function of these pathways.
Date: 06/11/2010
Search for Environmental Influences on Autism Risk Expands at IMFAR 2010
At this year's International Meeting for Autism Research, researchers discussed a growing list of potential environmental risk factors for autism currently under study. Among the many factors discussed at the meeting were hazardous air pollutants, assisted reproductive technologies, medications given during pregnancy and childbirth, maternal infections, smoking, nutritional factors, maternal stress and chemicals such as flame retardants.
Date: 06/11/2010
A Perspective on IMFAR From Our Chief Science Officer
Last week, Geri Dawson, Ph.D., Autism Speaks chief science officer, was among 1,800 scientists, clinicians and family members to attend the largest ever International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). She shares her thoughts on the latest science presented there and the future of autism research. Also, be sure to check out media coverage and blog posts from IMFAR.
Date: 05/28/2010
ATN Clinicians Present Key Research Findings
Autism Treatment Network (ATN) clinicians presented key research findings from the ATN Registry at two major professional conferences in the U.S. and Canada. They covered topics from gastrointestinal disorders to the benefits of collaborative care to research on psychotropic medications.
Date: 05/14/2010
Autism Awareness Month Highlighted by Progress in Mexico, Brazil and Aruba
Autism Speaks' Global Autism Public Health Initiative (GAPH) addresses the varying yet often dire needs of autism communities around the world. Today, GAPH partnerships are being explored and developed on nearly every continent. This April, Autism Speaks' science team participated in national autism conferences in Mexico, Brazil and Aruba.
Date: 05/07/2010
Autism Speaks Participates in Partnerships for Environmental Public Health Initiative
This week, The Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) initiative from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) held its first meeting in Durham, N.C. Autism Speaks was invited to participate in the initiative, which aims to build partnerships and increase communication with the broader community around environmental health concerns.
Date: 04/30/10
Dawson Joins Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
Chief Science Officer Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. was appointed as a public member of the NIH Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. The IACC, which was established under the Combating Autism Act of 2006. It provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on all aspects of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to both enhance coordination between federal agencies and increase the public's understanding of federal activities related to ASD, including research and policies.
Date: 04/30/10
ATN Investigators Focus on Studies in Sleep, Nutrition and Metabolism
The Autism Intervention Research Network for Physical Health (AIR-P) held its second investigators' meeting April 13-14, 2010. The AIR-P network, a grant initiative of the Combating Autism Act, consists of the 14 centers that comprise Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN). The ATN Clinical Coordinating Center, which serves as the project lead for the AIR-P, hosted 49 participants from eight ATN sites to discuss research projects in sleep, nutrition and metabolism.
Date: 04/22/2010
Autism Speaks Announces New Research Grant Opportunities
Autism Speaks is pleased to release its latest funding opportunities for researchers: Pilot and Trailblazer grants. Pilot grants are intended to draw new investigators into autism research and allow them to collect preliminary data to show the plausibility of an innovative area of exploration. Trailblazer grants support highly novel “out of the box” autism-relevant research that addresses significant roadblocks or that can open new avenues to understanding autism.
Date: 04/22/2010
Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation to Expand Epigenetic Studies
The EARLI Study, supported in part by Autism Speaks, recently received support to expand analyses into gene-environment interactions. This includes support for the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation, as well as linking this project with the National Children's Study.
Date: 04/15/2010
Autism Speaks Commits $5.2 million Toward Basic Science and Treatment Studies
Autism Speaks is announced new research grants totaling more than $5.2 million over the next three years. The new grants include investments that span the entire biomedical research spectrum, from basic research to methods for disseminating validated treatments to the community.
Date: 04/08/2010
Brain Imaging Study of Infant Sibs at Risk for Autism Expands Scope
The Infant Brain Imaging Stud (IBIS), funded in part by Autism Speaks, is designed to better understand early brain development in very young infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study is expanding to include infants with Fragile X Syndrome and is seeking families with an infant who has an older sibling with ASD or with an infant diagnosed with Fragile X. Learn more about the study and find out how to participate.
Date: 03/26/2010
Mitochondria Studies Prompt Novel Research Direction and Funding
At the end of 2008, Autism Speaks' High Risk, High Impact initiative invested in groundbreaking research in mitochondria and autism at the Universities of California at Irvine (UCI) and San Diego (UCSD). In just a year's time, this investment has borne fruit in terms of novel research directions and new investments from the federal government.
Date: 03/19/10
Autism Speaks Requests New Training, Treatment Network Applications
Autism Speaks is pleased to announce two new Requests for Applications that support our mission to improve the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Weatherstone Pre-Doctoral Fellowships support the early career development of autism scientists; and the Autism Treatment Network, a collaboration of treatment and research centers, is improving medical care for children and adolescents with ASDs.
Date: 03/12/10
AGRE Collects 10,000th DNA Sample
The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) has reached a significant milestone this month, having collected its 10,000th DNA sample from families with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). AGRE represents the world's largest private repository of clinical and genetic information for families affected with an ASD.
Date: 03/05/10
International Autism Conference, Manila, Philippines
Autism Speaks co-sponsored and attended the first-ever International Autism Conference in Manial, Philippines with expert speakers from around the world. The three-day conference brought together parents, professionals and autism advocates from around the Philippines to address this much neglected public health problem.
Date: 02/19/10
Researchers Meet to Discuss Infant Development and Early Identification of Autism
Members of Autism Speaks' High Risk Baby Siblings Research Consortium, met in San Diego to review progress of research on infant siblings and to identify future collaborative directions. Discussions focused on early detection, examination of developmental trajectories in at-risk infants, including the signs of regression, and methods to study early brain function.
Date: 02/12/10
2009 "Top Ten" List of Achievements in Autism Research
To document the progress made toward our mission to discover the causes and treatment for autism spectrum disorders, every year Autism Speaks' compiles a list of the 10 most significant research achievements to have impacted autism during the previous year. The 2009 list contains important results from treatment, epidemiology and brain development research, together with advances in translational research and DNA technology which will combine to shape the future of autism research for 2010 and beyond.
Date: 02/05/10
Request for Applications Announced for Autism Treatment Network
Autism Speaks announces the upcoming release of a Request for Applications (RFA) for the next funding cycle of its Autism Treatment Network, a collaboration of treatment and research centers dedicated to improving medical care for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The RFA will solicit letters of intent from hospitals and academic medical centers interested in participating in a multi-site clinical care and research network.
Date: 01/29/10
New Study Funded by Autism Speaks Links Neuroligin Gene Mutations to Oxidative Stress
What can a worm tell us about autism? In a new research paper, funded by a grant from Autism Speaks, the humble round worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, helps reveal impressive – even surprising – findings that are important to our understanding of the biological underpinnings of autism.
Date: 01/22/10
Autism Speaks Announces New High Risk, High Impact Grant
As part of its High Risk, High Impact initiative, Autism Speaks has announced a new grant
to fund a study that aims to document language understanding in a special group of non-verbal individuals with autism. Such an assessment can help direct educational and treatment resources so that non-verbal individuals may receive targeted interventions to better help them learn to communicate.
Date: 01/15/10
Annual Letter from our Chief Science Officer
Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geri Dawson, Ph.D., recaps major scientific advances in 2009 and the past decade, while looking forward to the future of autism research. She shares that we've learned in the past decade that there won't be one cause for the increase, but rather multiple causes that contribute to different forms of ASD.
Date: 01/08/10
Pediatrics Gastrointestinal Consensus Statement & Recommendations Provide First Step Toward Needed Guidelines for Children with Autism
Autism Speaks applauds the consensus statement and recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) released online in Pediatrics as one step in advancing physician awareness of unique challenges in the medical management of children with autism.
Date: 01/04/10
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