NAA and Safe Minds Sponsor Workshop to Discuss Environmental Toxins and Autism

Press Release
For Immediate Release: August 31, 2005

The National Autism Association (NAA) And Safe Minds Sponsor Symposium To Lay Groundwork For Autism Research

The Two-Day Workshop United Top Experts To Discuss Environmental Toxins And Autism

Bethesda, MD - National experts in environmental health sciences and neuroscience came together on Thursday and Friday in Bethesda, Maryland to create a "roadmap" for future research on the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

NAA and Safe Minds sponsored the event through a generous donation from The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Both parent-led organizations have long advocated for increased research of the relationship between exposures to toxins such as the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal and the development of neurological disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders were the primary focus of this symposium, but the overall objective was to define a research agenda elucidating the mechanisms by which toxicants may induce neural damage in the developing brain and ways to reverse such damage.

NAA and Safe Minds gathered experts together to present the latest research on heavy metal toxicity, biomedical pathways, epidemiology, clinical treatments, and neurotoxicology. NIEHS presented its current investigations in developmental neurotoxicology and a framework for funding the research.

After the presentations, the researchers set out to create a plan to identify the cause, treatments and cure for autism. The creation of this biomedical research roadmap was moderated by Dr. Ken Olden, immediate past director of NIEHS.

Laura Bono, Chairman of NAA, said, "A united focus is needed to bolster environmental research dollars and treatment options for Autism spectrum disorders which now affect 1 in 166 children with 1 in 6 children suffering from some form of developmental disorder. Recent investigations reveal intriguing data suggesting environmental insults combined with genetic vulnerability may be responsible for this devastating epidemic. The symposium was our first real step in developing biomedical research desperately needed for children suffering with autism and in securing NIH funding for support of such efforts."

A number of non-profit autism and advocacy organizations participated in the event along with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and Congressional staff representatives.

"Autism groups coming together with important political figures, government officials, scientists and NIH researchers marks a historical moment for the autism community and underscores the critical job of helping the children now," said Jo Pike, Executive Director of NAA. NAA and Safe Minds plan to submit the roadmap to NIH and Congress with specific requests for funding the important research.

For the meeting agenda and a full list of presenters at the NIEHS Symposium, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org/niehsagenda.php

For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
http://www.autismconcepts.com/.