Current Research On Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Autism Coordinating Committee, formed in 1997 at the request of Congress, seeks to improve the quality, speed, and coordination of efforts by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to find a cure for autism.

The National Institute of Mental Health’s Autism Coordinating Committee involves the participation of seven NIH Institutes:

The Autism Coordinating Committee has been very useful in advancing the understanding of autism spectrum disorders and in making progress in autism spectrum disorder research.  They have also participated in different combined efforts with other agencies, such as the Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), to find a cure for autism.

In addition to the Autism Coordinating Committee, the National Institute of Mental Health funds eleven Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) which investigate various autism related fields, such as the following:

  • Early brain development
  • Infant social interactions
  • Genetic variants and mutations of autism
  • The association of genes and physical traits for autism
  • Environmental risk factors
  • Biomarkers
  • Medication for autism

National Institute of Mental Health Sponsored Research

The National Institute of Mental Health provides individual grants for research projects relating to autism, and sponsors training, small grants, career support, and program projects for autism research regarding interventions, diagnosis, genetics, neurobiology, and services.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2007 the NIMH donated $127 million to autism spectrum disorder research in the areas of biology, treatment, diagnosis, and risk factors, with subcatogories in each area; a list of which can be seen below:

  • Biology
  1. Clinical Neuroscience
  2. Basic Neuroscience
  3. Biological Systems
  • Treatment
  1. Psychopharmacology
  2. Biomedical
  3. Behavioral/Psychosocial
  4. Services Research
  5. Biomarkers for Treatment Response
  • Diagnosis
  1. Instrument Development
  2. Early Identification
  3. Characterization
  4. Incidence/Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  1. Genetics/Genomics
  2. Environmental Influences and Gene x Environment Interplay
  3. Mechanisms and Model Systems of Environmental Influences
  4. Psychosocial
  • Other
  1. Research Resources (e.g., data systems, repositories of biomaterials)
  2. Education and Dissemination
  3. Other

These catogories and subcatogories combined cover a large area of the search for a cure for autism. In addition to this National Institute of Mental Health funding, there are various ongoing activities in autism research being sponsored by different National Health Institutes such as:

  • Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE)
  • Centers for Children's Environmental Health & Disease Prevention Research (NIEHS)
  • Clinical Trials
  • National Database for Autism Research (NDAR)

References:

Information regarding autism research and funding is provided by the Autism Coordinating Committee and the National Institute of Mental Health.

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