Re: Whatcha'll think of this

[Guest guest]

don't see one for vaccinated vs unvaccinated.autismlink <cindy@...> wrote: AUTISM SPEAKS APPROVES MORE THAN $15 MILLIONIN NEW RESEARCH GRANTS52 Projects To Be Funded in Three Separate CategoriesNEW YORK, NY (July 2, 2007) -- Autism Speaks today announced that ithas approved $15.2 million in funding for 52 new research grants,spanning a wide range of topics to improve our understanding of therisk factors for autism, its underlying mechanisms, and how a disorderthat now affects

one in every 150 children might be more effectivelytreated and prevented. Many of the research projects expand onexisting knowledge of autism, while others explore innovative ideasthat have had less research support, and several serve asresource-building initiatives that will facilitate furtherinvestigations in the future. Autism Speaks received more than 265grant proposals during this grant cycle, with those that have beenfunded representing the studies of the highest quality.The cycle's biomedical research grants fall into three general fundingcategories (Pilot Studies, Basic and Clinical Grants, and TreatmentGrants) and are among the most innovative proposals funded to date. The following highlights some of the projects approved in this round:Pilot Studies: Grants of this type are intended to draw newinvestigators into the field of autism research, or to allowinvestigators to collect preliminary data to

show plausibility of aninnovative area of exploration. These field-building grants supportdata collection that then might lead to a larger grant for moreexpansive and in-depth analysis. Autism Speaks Pilot Studies providefunding of up to $60,000 per year for a maximum of two years.Fifteen pilot awards, totaling $1.8 million, have been approved. Three aim to collect epidemiological data that will allow theidentification of targets for future research. The first (PI: Kim)will build on an existing Autism Speaks-funded study in South Korea toaddress the question of changes in international autism prevalenceover time. A second (PI: Ascherio) will make use of a largeNIH-sponsored database (the Nurse's Health Study II) to determine theimpact of maternal factors, such as obstetric complications and diet,on autism risk. The third (PI: Sourander) will make use of a nationalFinnish database to collect data on both

environmental and geneticrisk factors for autism and to search for biomarkers. Another pilotstudy of interest (PI: Chauhan) will attempt to identify biochemicaldifferences in autistic individuals that may account for the previousobservations that oxidative stress, inflammation and aberrant immuneresponse may be present in some individuals with autism.Basic and Clinical Grants: In an effort to further develop researchin areas of considerable interest, Autism Speaks has launched a newfunding mechanism called Basic and Clinical Grants. Researchproposals of this type cover a broad range of topics, with the goal ofmore accurately revealing and defining, quantitatively andqualitatively, all aspects of autism. Providing an opportunity topursue leads that have shown promise in pilot studies, these grantsoffer researchers larger commitments over a longer time period. Assuch, Autism Speaks Basic and Clinical Grants provide

funding of up to$150,000 per year for a maximum of three years.Twenty-seven basic and clinical research grants, with a commitmentexceeding $11.5 million, were awarded in this category. Complementingthe pilot study on oxidative stress and immune response, two projectswill examine the role of the immune system in autism (PI: McAllister,Rall). Several genetic studies will be pursued, including thefeasibility of blood test screens for autism using gene expression(PI: Kunkel, Sharp). Additional genetic studies include an in-depthstudy of the potential involvement of a gene (neurexin) required forthe formation of synapses and cell communication in the brain (PI:Gusella) and a screen to identify susceptibility genes for theregressive form of autism (PI: Molloy). A project to developwidely-used autism diagnostic tests in Mandarin Chinese (PI: Lee) willhelp to further standardize diagnostic measures internationally

andthereby promote autism research in Chinese-speaking countries andallow assessment of disease prevalence in other countries. Finally,several research studies will utilize animal models, including one(PI: Zador) that will employ a rodent model of the deficits in neuralcircuitry that result from mutations in various candidate autismgenes, which may have very different immediate effects but end withthe same physiological dysfunction (i.e., autism). Treatment Grants: Most importantly, these grants address the urgentneed to develop effective therapies to treat both the core anddomain-specific features of autism for those living with the disordertoday. Grants of this type support research focused on all aspects oftreatment, from behavioral to biomedical and technological. AutismSpeaks Treatment Grants provide funding of up to $60,000 for a maximumof three years. Ten grants, totaling almost $2 million, were

approvedfor treatment research. The treatment therapies to be tested are both pharmacological andbehavioral. Two pharmacological studies include placebo-controlleddrug trials; one, with melatonin (PI: Glaze) is mentioned below, andanother (PI: Arnold), with a nicotinic antagonist called mecamylamine,which has shown some promise in Tourette's syndrome and ADHD, will bestudied for efficacy in individuals in autism. Another treatmentgrant involves the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), anon-invasive way to modulate brain activity, to improve motor symptoms(PI: Sporn). Behavioral/educational intervention studies include alanguage intervention (PI: Volkmar), a sensory integration treatment(PI: Pfeiffer), joint attention training (PI: Wong), and varioussocial interventions. One particularly intriguing study (PI: Wang)involves the use of brain imaging in addition to social functionmeasures to

demonstrate efficacy of the intervention. Anotherextremely innovative project (PI: Sarkar) will incorporate virtualreality technology to manipulate the social environment and utilizesignal detection technology to measure physiological signs ofsubjects' reactions to the various social situations as they arepresented.Of note, three projects (two Basic and Clinical Grants and oneTreatment Grant) are led by clinical investigators associated withAutism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN), the goal of which is todevelop standardized medical care for autism. These projects include:a study to develop effective diagnostic screening methods forgastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in children with autism and todetermine whether uncomfortable or painful GI conditions in childrenwith ASD are related to the expression of problem behaviors (PI:Winter); a study to develop a measure of parent and child quality oflife that will

improve outcome assessment of clinical trials (PI:Kuhlthau); and a controlled clinical trial of melatonin (PI: Glaze) totreat sleep problems and in turn to see how this may improve behavior.Overall, the 52 grants are linked by some common themes. Along withthe ten grants devoted to treatment studies, there are: 11 grantspertaining to determining the etiology, or causes, of autism -- i.e.,studies of genetic factors, environmental factors and epidemiology; 26grants pertaining to gaining an understanding of the underlyingpathobiology of autism -- i.e., studies utilizing cell biology,molecular genetics, immunology, brain imaging, and basic neuroscience,including post mortem brain studies and animal models of autismfeatures; and 6 grants pertaining to methods of better diagnosis ofautism or associated dysfunction. Importantly, these funded projects represent a diverse group ofmethods and topics so that multiple

aspects of ASD will be studied. "Autism Speaks would like to congratulate the investigators of thesestudies," said Dr. Goldstein, chair of the Autism SpeaksScientific Advisory Council. "I am pleased we were able to fundseveral areas of research that have not received as much attention,such as international epidemiology and also the study of medicalconditions potentially associated with autism, such as GI and immunesystem dysfunction. At the same time, we would also like to continueto encourage and fund more research in areas not well-represented inthis year's submissions, such as studies focusing on biomarkers, or ona diverse range of environmental factors and how they interact withgenetic susceptibilities. In the coming months, Autism Speaks willoffer workshops for scientists to review grant writing procedures andencourage more applications."The research enabled by these grants promises to yield a

betterunderstanding of all the features of autism, in order to help affectedindividuals and their families.Lay abstracts of grants funded in this cycle can be found on theAutism Speaks web site, www.autismspeaks.org. To learn more about theprocess by which grant decisions are made, go tohttp://www.autismspeaks.org/science/research/grants_program.php.ABOUT AUTISMAutism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability tocommunicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompaniedby extreme behavioral challenges. Autism Spectrum Disorders arediagnosed in one in 150 children in the United States, affecting fourtimes as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increasedtenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention have called autism a national public

health crisis whosecause and cure remain unknown.About Autism SpeaksAutism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrumdisorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatmentsand cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affectedfamilies. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob ,the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob is Vice Chairman,General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC formore than twenty years. Autism Speaks has merged with both theNational Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now(CAN), bringing together the nation's three leading autism advocacyorganizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visitwww.autismspeaks.org.

Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Games.

[Guest guest]

What's AS'S skewed definition of highest quality, and highest quality

for whom?

>

> AUTISM SPEAKS APPROVES MORE THAN $15 MILLION

>

> IN NEW RESEARCH GRANTS

>

> 52 Projects To Be Funded in Three Separate Categories

>

>

>

> NEW YORK, NY (July 2, 2007) -- Autism Speaks today announced that it

> has approved $15.2 million in funding for 52 new research grants,

> spanning a wide range of topics to improve our understanding of the

> risk factors for autism, its underlying mechanisms, and how a disorder

> that now affects one in every 150 children might be more effectively

> treated and prevented. Many of the research projects expand on

> existing knowledge of autism, while others explore innovative ideas

> that have had less research support, and several serve as

> resource-building initiatives that will facilitate further

> investigations in the future. Autism Speaks received more than 265

> grant proposals during this grant cycle, with those that have been

> funded representing the studies of the highest quality.

>

>

>

> The cycle's biomedical research grants fall into three general funding

> categories (Pilot Studies, Basic and Clinical Grants, and Treatment

> Grants) and are among the most innovative proposals funded to date.

> The following highlights some of the projects approved in this round:

>

>

>

> Pilot Studies: Grants of this type are intended to draw new

> investigators into the field of autism research, or to allow

> investigators to collect preliminary data to show plausibility of an

> innovative area of exploration. These field-building grants support

> data collection that then might lead to a larger grant for more

> expansive and in-depth analysis. Autism Speaks Pilot Studies provide

> funding of up to $60,000 per year for a maximum of two years.

>

>

>

> Fifteen pilot awards, totaling $1.8 million, have been approved.

> Three aim to collect epidemiological data that will allow the

> identification of targets for future research. The first (PI: Kim)

> will build on an existing Autism Speaks-funded study in South Korea to

> address the question of changes in international autism prevalence

> over time. A second (PI: Ascherio) will make use of a large

> NIH-sponsored database (the Nurse's Health Study II) to determine the

> impact of maternal factors, such as obstetric complications and diet,

> on autism risk. The third (PI: Sourander) will make use of a national

> Finnish database to collect data on both environmental and genetic

> risk factors for autism and to search for biomarkers. Another pilot

> study of interest (PI: Chauhan) will attempt to identify biochemical

> differences in autistic individuals that may account for the previous

> observations that oxidative stress, inflammation and aberrant immune

> response may be present in some individuals with autism.

>

>

>

> Basic and Clinical Grants: In an effort to further develop research

> in areas of considerable interest, Autism Speaks has launched a new

> funding mechanism called Basic and Clinical Grants. Research

> proposals of this type cover a broad range of topics, with the goal of

> more accurately revealing and defining, quantitatively and

> qualitatively, all aspects of autism. Providing an opportunity to

> pursue leads that have shown promise in pilot studies, these grants

> offer researchers larger commitments over a longer time period. As

> such, Autism Speaks Basic and Clinical Grants provide funding of up to

> $150,000 per year for a maximum of three years.

>

>

>

> Twenty-seven basic and clinical research grants, with a commitment

> exceeding $11.5 million, were awarded in this category. Complementing

> the pilot study on oxidative stress and immune response, two projects

> will examine the role of the immune system in autism (PI: McAllister,

> Rall). Several genetic studies will be pursued, including the

> feasibility of blood test screens for autism using gene expression

> (PI: Kunkel, Sharp). Additional genetic studies include an in-depth

> study of the potential involvement of a gene (neurexin) required for

> the formation of synapses and cell communication in the brain (PI:

> Gusella) and a screen to identify susceptibility genes for the

> regressive form of autism (PI: Molloy). A project to develop

> widely-used autism diagnostic tests in Mandarin Chinese (PI: Lee) will

> help to further standardize diagnostic measures internationally and

> thereby promote autism research in Chinese-speaking countries and

> allow assessment of disease prevalence in other countries. Finally,

> several research studies will utilize animal models, including one

> (PI: Zador) that will employ a rodent model of the deficits in neural

> circuitry that result from mutations in various candidate autism

> genes, which may have very different immediate effects but end with

> the same physiological dysfunction (i.e., autism).

>

>

>

> Treatment Grants: Most importantly, these grants address the urgent

> need to develop effective therapies to treat both the core and

> domain-specific features of autism for those living with the disorder

> today. Grants of this type support research focused on all aspects of

> treatment, from behavioral to biomedical and technological. Autism

> Speaks Treatment Grants provide funding of up to $60,000 for a maximum

> of three years. Ten grants, totaling almost $2 million, were approved

> for treatment research.

>

>

>

> The treatment therapies to be tested are both pharmacological and

> behavioral. Two pharmacological studies include placebo-controlled

> drug trials; one, with melatonin (PI: Glaze) is mentioned below, and

> another (PI: Arnold), with a nicotinic antagonist called mecamylamine,

> which has shown some promise in Tourette's syndrome and ADHD, will be

> studied for efficacy in individuals in autism. Another treatment

> grant involves the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a

> non-invasive way to modulate brain activity, to improve motor symptoms

> (PI: Sporn). Behavioral/educational intervention studies include a

> language intervention (PI: Volkmar), a sensory integration treatment

> (PI: Pfeiffer), joint attention training (PI: Wong), and various

> social interventions. One particularly intriguing study (PI: Wang)

> involves the use of brain imaging in addition to social function

> measures to demonstrate efficacy of the intervention. Another

> extremely innovative project (PI: Sarkar) will incorporate virtual

> reality technology to manipulate the social environment and utilize

> signal detection technology to measure physiological signs of

> subjects' reactions to the various social situations as they are

> presented.

>

> Of note, three projects (two Basic and Clinical Grants and one

> Treatment Grant) are led by clinical investigators associated with

> Autism Speaks' Autism Treatment Network (ATN), the goal of which is to

> develop standardized medical care for autism. These projects include:

> a study to develop effective diagnostic screening methods for

> gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in children with autism and to

> determine whether uncomfortable or painful GI conditions in children

> with ASD are related to the expression of problem behaviors (PI:

> Winter); a study to develop a measure of parent and child quality of

> life that will improve outcome assessment of clinical trials (PI:

> Kuhlthau); and a controlled clinical trial of melatonin (PI: Glaze) to

> treat sleep problems and in turn to see how this may improve behavior.

>

>

>

> Overall, the 52 grants are linked by some common themes. Along with

> the ten grants devoted to treatment studies, there are: 11 grants

> pertaining to determining the etiology, or causes, of autism -- i.e.,

> studies of genetic factors, environmental factors and epidemiology; 26

> grants pertaining to gaining an understanding of the underlying

> pathobiology of autism -- i.e., studies utilizing cell biology,

> molecular genetics, immunology, brain imaging, and basic neuroscience,

> including post mortem brain studies and animal models of autism

> features; and 6 grants pertaining to methods of better diagnosis of

> autism or associated dysfunction.

>

>

>

> Importantly, these funded projects represent a diverse group of

> methods and topics so that multiple aspects of ASD will be studied.

> " Autism Speaks would like to congratulate the investigators of these

> studies, " said Dr. Goldstein, chair of the Autism Speaks

> Scientific Advisory Council. " I am pleased we were able to fund

> several areas of research that have not received as much attention,

> such as international epidemiology and also the study of medical

> conditions potentially associated with autism, such as GI and immune

> system dysfunction. At the same time, we would also like to continue

> to encourage and fund more research in areas not well-represented in

> this year's submissions, such as studies focusing on biomarkers, or on

> a diverse range of environmental factors and how they interact with

> genetic susceptibilities. In the coming months, Autism Speaks will

> offer workshops for scientists to review grant writing procedures and

> encourage more applications. "

>

>

>

> The research enabled by these grants promises to yield a better

> understanding of all the features of autism, in order to help affected

> individuals and their families.

>

>

>

> Lay abstracts of grants funded in this cycle can be found on the

> Autism Speaks web site, www.autismspeaks.org. To learn more about the

> process by which grant decisions are made, go to

> http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/research/grants_program.php.

>

>

>

> 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 extreme 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 diagnosis 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 dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum

> disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments

> and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected

> families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob ,

> the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob is Vice Chairman,

> General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC for

> more than twenty years. Autism Speaks has merged with both the

> National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now

> (CAN), bringing together the nation's three leading autism advocacy

> organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit

> www.autismspeaks.org.

>

[Guest guest]

Gosh, what could be done with $15 million!

--- searchingforserenity111

<searchingforserenity111@...> wrote:

> What's AS'S skewed definition of highest quality,

> and highest quality

> for whom?

>

>

> >

> > AUTISM SPEAKS APPROVES MORE THAN $15 MILLION

> >

> > IN NEW RESEARCH GRANTS

> >

> > 52 Projects To Be Funded in Three Separate

> Categories

> >

> >

> >

> > NEW YORK, NY (July 2, 2007) -- Autism Speaks today

> announced that it

> > has approved $15.2 million in funding for 52 new

> research grants,

> > spanning a wide range of topics to improve our

> understanding of the

> > risk factors for autism, its underlying

> mechanisms, and how a disorder

> > that now affects one in every 150 children might

> be more effectively

> > treated and prevented. Many of the research

> projects expand on

> > existing knowledge of autism, while others explore

> innovative ideas

> > that have had less research support, and several

> serve as

> > resource-building initiatives that will facilitate

> further

> > investigations in the future. Autism Speaks

> received more than 265

> > grant proposals during this grant cycle, with

> those that have been

> > funded representing the studies of the highest

> quality.

> >

> >

> >

> > The cycle's biomedical research grants fall into

> three general funding

> > categories (Pilot Studies, Basic and Clinical

> Grants, and Treatment

> > Grants) and are among the most innovative

> proposals funded to date.

> > The following highlights some of the projects

> approved in this round:

> >

> >

> >

> > Pilot Studies: Grants of this type are intended

> to draw new

> > investigators into the field of autism research,

> or to allow

> > investigators to collect preliminary data to show

> plausibility of an

> > innovative area of exploration. These

> field-building grants support

> > data collection that then might lead to a larger

> grant for more

> > expansive and in-depth analysis. Autism Speaks

> Pilot Studies provide

> > funding of up to $60,000 per year for a maximum of

> two years.

> >

> >

> >

> > Fifteen pilot awards, totaling $1.8 million, have

> been approved.

> > Three aim to collect epidemiological data that

> will allow the

> > identification of targets for future research.

> The first (PI: Kim)

> > will build on an existing Autism Speaks-funded

> study in South Korea to

> > address the question of changes in international

> autism prevalence

> > over time. A second (PI: Ascherio) will make use

> of a large

> > NIH-sponsored database (the Nurse's Health Study

> II) to determine the

> > impact of maternal factors, such as obstetric

> complications and diet,

> > on autism risk. The third (PI: Sourander) will

> make use of a national

> > Finnish database to collect data on both

> environmental and genetic

> > risk factors for autism and to search for

> biomarkers. Another pilot

> > study of interest (PI: Chauhan) will attempt to

> identify biochemical

> > differences in autistic individuals that may

> account for the previous

> > observations that oxidative stress, inflammation

> and aberrant immune

> > response may be present in some individuals with

> autism.

> >

> >

> >

> > Basic and Clinical Grants: In an effort to

> further develop research

> > in areas of considerable interest, Autism Speaks

> has launched a new

> > funding mechanism called Basic and Clinical

> Grants. Research

> > proposals of this type cover a broad range of

> topics, with the goal of

> > more accurately revealing and defining,

> quantitatively and

> > qualitatively, all aspects of autism. Providing

> an opportunity to

> > pursue leads that have shown promise in pilot

> studies, these grants

> > offer researchers larger commitments over a longer

> time period. As

> > such, Autism Speaks Basic and Clinical Grants

> provide funding of up to

> > $150,000 per year for a maximum of three years.

> >

> >

> >

> > Twenty-seven basic and clinical research grants,

> with a commitment

> > exceeding $11.5 million, were awarded in this

> category. Complementing

> > the pilot study on oxidative stress and immune

> response, two projects

> > will examine the role of the immune system in

> autism (PI: McAllister,

> > Rall). Several genetic studies will be pursued,

> including the

> > feasibility of blood test screens for autism using

> gene expression

> > (PI: Kunkel, Sharp). Additional genetic studies

> include an in-depth

> > study of the potential involvement of a gene

> (neurexin) required for

> > the formation of synapses and cell communication

> in the brain (PI:

> > Gusella) and a screen to identify susceptibility

> genes for the

> > regressive form of autism (PI: Molloy). A project

> to develop

> > widely-used autism diagnostic tests in Mandarin

> Chinese (PI: Lee) will

> > help to further standardize diagnostic measures

> internationally and

> > thereby promote autism research in

> Chinese-speaking countries and

> > allow assessment of disease prevalence in other

> countries. Finally,

> > several research studies will utilize animal

> models, including one

> > (PI: Zador) that will employ a rodent model of the

> deficits in neural

> > circuitry that result from mutations in various

> candidate autism

> > genes, which may have very different immediate

> effects but end with

> > the same physiological dysfunction (i.e., autism).

>

> >

> >

> >

> > Treatment Grants: Most importantly, these grants

> address the urgent

> > need to develop effective therapies to treat both

> the core and

> > domain-specific features of autism for those

> living with the disorder

> > today. Grants of this type support research

> focused on all aspects of

> > treatment, from behavioral to biomedical and

> technological. Autism

> > Speaks Treatment Grants provide funding of up to

> $60,000 for a maximum

> > of three years. Ten grants, totaling almost $2

> million, were approved

> > for treatment research.

> >

> >

> >

> > The treatment therapies to be tested are both

> pharmacological and

> > behavioral. Two pharmacological studies include

> placebo-controlled

> > drug trials; one, with melatonin (PI: Glaze) is

> mentioned below, and

> > another (PI: Arnold), with a nicotinic antagonist

> called mecamylamine,

> > which has shown some promise in Tourette's

> syndrome and ADHD, will be

> > studied for efficacy in individuals in autism.

> Another treatment

> > grant involves the use of transcranial magnetic

> stimulation (TMS), a

>

=== message truncated ===

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

A million to 15 people to recover their kids."L. T" <mrefus@...> wrote: Gosh, what could be done with $15 million! --- searchingforserenity111<searchingforserenity111 > wrote:> What's AS'S skewed definition of highest quality,> and highest quality> for whom?> > > >> > AUTISM SPEAKS APPROVES MORE THAN $15 MILLION> > > > IN NEW RESEARCH GRANTS> > > > 52 Projects To Be Funded in Three Separate> Categories> > > > > > > > NEW YORK, NY (July 2, 2007) -- Autism Speaks today> announced that it> > has approved $15.2 million in funding for 52 new> research grants,> > spanning a wide range of topics to improve our> understanding of the> > risk factors for autism, its underlying> mechanisms, and how a disorder> > that now affects one in every 150 children might> be more effectively> > treated and prevented. Many of the research> projects expand on> > existing knowledge of autism, while others explore> innovative ideas> > that have had less research support, and several> serve as> >

resource-building initiatives that will facilitate> further> > investigations in the future. Autism Speaks> received more than 265> > grant proposals during this grant cycle, with> those that have been> > funded representing the studies of the highest> quality.> > > > > > > > The cycle's biomedical research grants fall into> three general funding> > categories (Pilot Studies, Basic and Clinical> Grants, and Treatment> > Grants) and are among the most innovative> proposals funded to date. > > The following highlights some of the projects> approved in this round:> > > > > > > > Pilot Studies: Grants of this type are intended> to draw new> > investigators into the field of autism research,> or to allow> > investigators to collect preliminary data to

show> plausibility of an> > innovative area of exploration. These> field-building grants support> > data collection that then might lead to a larger> grant for more> > expansive and in-depth analysis. Autism Speaks> Pilot Studies provide> > funding of up to $60,000 per year for a maximum of> two years.> > > > > > > > Fifteen pilot awards, totaling $1.8 million, have> been approved. > > Three aim to collect epidemiological data that> will allow the> > identification of targets for future research. > The first (PI: Kim)> > will build on an existing Autism Speaks-funded> study in South Korea to> > address the question of changes in international> autism prevalence> > over time. A second (PI: Ascherio) will make use> of a large> > NIH-sponsored database (the

Nurse's Health Study> II) to determine the> > impact of maternal factors, such as obstetric> complications and diet,> > on autism risk. The third (PI: Sourander) will> make use of a national> > Finnish database to collect data on both> environmental and genetic> > risk factors for autism and to search for> biomarkers. Another pilot> > study of interest (PI: Chauhan) will attempt to> identify biochemical> > differences in autistic individuals that may> account for the previous> > observations that oxidative stress, inflammation> and aberrant immune> > response may be present in some individuals with> autism.> > > > > > > > Basic and Clinical Grants: In an effort to> further develop research> > in areas of considerable interest, Autism Speaks> has launched a new>

> funding mechanism called Basic and Clinical> Grants. Research> > proposals of this type cover a broad range of> topics, with the goal of> > more accurately revealing and defining,> quantitatively and> > qualitatively, all aspects of autism. Providing> an opportunity to> > pursue leads that have shown promise in pilot> studies, these grants> > offer researchers larger commitments over a longer> time period. As> > such, Autism Speaks Basic and Clinical Grants> provide funding of up to> > $150,000 per year for a maximum of three years.> > > > > > > > Twenty-seven basic and clinical research grants,> with a commitment> > exceeding $11.5 million, were awarded in this> category. Complementing> > the pilot study on oxidative stress and immune> response, two projects> >

will examine the role of the immune system in> autism (PI: McAllister,> > Rall). Several genetic studies will be pursued,> including the> > feasibility of blood test screens for autism using> gene expression> > (PI: Kunkel, Sharp). Additional genetic studies> include an in-depth> > study of the potential involvement of a gene> (neurexin) required for> > the formation of synapses and cell communication> in the brain (PI:> > Gusella) and a screen to identify susceptibility> genes for the> > regressive form of autism (PI: Molloy). A project> to develop> > widely-used autism diagnostic tests in Mandarin> Chinese (PI: Lee) will> > help to further standardize diagnostic measures> internationally and> > thereby promote autism research in> Chinese-speaking countries and> > allow assessment of

disease prevalence in other> countries. Finally,> > several research studies will utilize animal> models, including one> > (PI: Zador) that will employ a rodent model of the> deficits in neural> > circuitry that result from mutations in various> candidate autism> > genes, which may have very different immediate> effects but end with> > the same physiological dysfunction (i.e., autism).> > > > > > > > > Treatment Grants: Most importantly, these grants> address the urgent> > need to develop effective therapies to treat both> the core and> > domain-specific features of autism for those> living with the disorder> > today. Grants of this type support research> focused on all aspects of> > treatment, from behavioral to biomedical and> technological. Autism> > Speaks

Treatment Grants provide funding of up to> $60,000 for a maximum> > of three years. Ten grants, totaling almost $2> million, were approved> > for treatment research. > > > > > > > > The treatment therapies to be tested are both> pharmacological and> > behavioral. Two pharmacological studies include> placebo-controlled> > drug trials; one, with melatonin (PI: Glaze) is> mentioned below, and> > another (PI: Arnold), with a nicotinic antagonist> called mecamylamine,> > which has shown some promise in Tourette's> syndrome and ADHD, will be> > studied for efficacy in individuals in autism. > Another treatment> > grant involves the use of transcranial magnetic> stimulation (TMS), a> === message truncated

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[Guest guest]

Oh, that will be done next time, in Somalia.

Heidi

From: Maurine Meleck <maurine_meleck@...>Reply-EOHarm To: EOHarm Subject: Re: Whatcha'll think of thisDate: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 07:11:42 -0700 (PDT)

don't see one for vaccinated vs unvaccinated.autismlink <cindyautismlink> wrote:

AUTISM SPEAKS APPROVES MORE THAN $15 MILLIONIN NEW RESEARCH GRANTS52 Projects To Be Funded in Three Separate CategoriesNEW YORK, NY (July 2, 2007) -- Autism Speaks today announced that ithas approved $15.2 million in funding for 52 new

[Guest guest]

And you probably never will. No ethics review board would ever allow a

large cohort of unvaccinated children for a study (even voluntarily) -

it would be considered too dangerous/unethical.

Maurine Meleck wrote:

> don't see one for vaccinated vs unvaccinated.

[Guest guest]

and nothing here for DAN! or the effectiveness of chelation or various

chelators? why do they completely disregard what we already know?

this amounts to more kids NOT getting the proper care at an early age.

more undereducated therapists and so called early intervention tax

dollars going to waste.

i am absoltuly sickened that the local so called early intervention is

serving the kids cheerios.

>

> > don't see one for vaccinated vs unvaccinated.

>

[Guest guest]

I bet we could raise the money for a vaccinated vs un in 3-6 mos.

Anyone know what it would cost? If the % is right that Americans in

the 80* range believe vaccines have a role, I'd bet a lot of Americans

would give money, esp with a good Internet campaign. Heck, myspace

alone, $1 a person.

I don't like the gov doing one at all. Just look at what they did with

the date at Simpsonwood...I wouldn't put it past 'em to skew the data

to make it come out the way they want, rather than the truth.

Debi

>

> don't see one for vaccinated vs unvaccinated.

>

>