Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEAs)
In 1997, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in collaboration with NIDCD, started a five-year, $45 million, international Network on the Neurobiology and Genetics of Autism. The Network included 10 CPEAs that would conduct research to learn about the possible causes of autism, including genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. In 2002, NICHD and NIDCD renewed funding for the CPEA Network, agreeing to provide $60 million over a period of five years. The CPEAs link 129 scientists from 23 universities in the United States, Canada, Britain, and five other countries, and more than 2,000 families of people with autism. As a result of the CPEAs, researchers now have data on the genetics and outward characteristics of the largest group of well-diagnosed persons with autism in the world. Visit www.nichd.nih.gov/autism/research/cpea.cfm for information about specific sites and focus of research.
The Studies for the Advancement of Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) Network
The Children's Health Act of 2000 mandated that NIH support a new program of at least five centers of excellence focused on autism and related disorders. To address this mandate, the Institutes involved in the NIH/ACC, including NIDCD, NICHD, NINDS, NIMH and NIEHS, initiated the STAART Network, a five-year, $65 million research effort that focuses exclusively on autism. Each Network site supports and conducts both individual and collaborative projects to learn more about autism causes, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, and treatment. Visit www.nimh.nih.gov/autismiacc/staart.cfm for information about specific sites and focus of research.
Autism Research Matrix
In NIH Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2003, Congress requested that a panel of expert scientists be convened to evaluate the field of autism research and develop a matrix of action items that could be used in planning for future research. The autism research matrix was developed by a process of reviewing the status of important scientific content areas for autism, identifying roadblocks within these areas, and then formulating activities to overcome the roadblocks. These proposed activities were then placed in a matrix according to the level of risk for their success and the timeframe for undertaking them. The matrix includes content areas of communication and collaboration, characterization of autism, school and community interventions, early intervention, epidemiological studies, specific treatments, neuroscience, screening, and the role of the environment in autism. Visit www.nimh.nih.gov/autismiacc/CongApprCommRep.pdf for more information.
Pre- and Post-Doctoral Candidates in Language and Autism: Co-Mentor Program
This initiative for individual predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships in the area of language and autism has just been issued by NAAR. NIDCD co-sponsored earlier activities with NAAR that led to this initiative. Visit www.naar.org/research/research.htm for more information.
Research on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders
In April, 2004, the NIH published the Program Announcement: "Research on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders," as a reissue of the previous announcement. The purpose of this program announcement is to encourage grant applications for the support of research designed to elucidate the diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology, genetics, treatment, and optimal means of service delivery in relation to Autistic Disorder ("autism") and autism spectrum disorders (Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, or "Atypical Autism"). Visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-04-085.html for the announcement.
NAAR-NIDCD Collaborations
NAAR and NIDCD continue to explore a number of possible funding opportunities for research and training, and several initiatives are currently under development.
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