NIH Autism Coordinating Committee
What is the NIH/ACC?
In 1997, at the request of Congress, the NIH formed its Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) to enhance the quality, pace and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism. Since then, the NIH/ACC has been instrumental in the research into, understanding of, and advances in autism.
Who is involved in the NIH/ACC?
The following NIH Institutes are members of the NIH/ACC:
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
In addition, representatives from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) participate in NIH/ACC meetings. The Directors of the NIMH and NICHD are co-chairs of the NIH/ACC.
The NIH/ACC is also integrally involved in the broader Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) that is composed of representatives from various component agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other governmental organizations, and is chaired by the Director of NIMH.
What is the NIH/ACC doing to learn more about autism?
There are several network activities in autism research, sponsored by various components of the NIH/ACC:
- Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEA) Network (NICHD & NIDCD)
- The Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART Network)
- Children's Environmental Health Centers (NIEHS)
In addition to these center networks, the NIH/ACC also currently funds about 200 other research grants dealing with autism. Total NIH support for autism research was approximately 74 million dollars in 2002. NIH also supports infrastructure activities such as a genetics repository and a national brain bank for autism research.
