News
Monday, February 4, 2013
2012 IACC Strategic Plan Update Focuses on Recent Advances and Emerging Opportunities in Autism Research
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has released its Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research – 2012 Update. The 2012 Strategic Plan Update provides an update on recent developments in each of the seven critical research areas outlined in the 2011 IACC Strategic Plan for ASD Research, including screening and diagnosis, the underlying biology of ASD, risk factors, treatments and interventions, services, lifespan issues, and surveillance and infrastructure. Read more | Strategic Plan Update
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Autism Progress, IACC Chairman, Dr. Thomas Insel
Every year the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) updates its Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research, identifying progress and new opportunities across the range of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research. Each year this task gets more difficult. In 2012, the speed of progress was so rapid that each draft of the Plan was out of date by the time the IACC reviewed it. The sheer volume of research was overwhelming. According to PubMed, there were over 1,000 ASD papers related to genetics or brain imaging since January 2011 – more than three times the number of papers from the same interval a decade ago. Read more
Friday, December 21, 2012
Statement of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Related to the Sandy Hook Tragedy (PDF – 109 KB)
The events of December 14 in Newtown, Connecticut shocked and saddened people worldwide. All of the members of the IACC express our deepest sympathy and support for the families and community affected by these terrible killings. Some news reports suggested the gunman had Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because this tragic event has shaken so many, the IACC wants to ensure that continued speculation about the gunman's diagnosis does not hurt others in the community. Our committee has collectively prepared this statement to address public concerns and questions about the implied association between autism and extreme violence directed at others. Read more
Monday, May 21, 2012
Time Matters – Why We Care So Much About Data Sharing, IACC Chairman, Dr. Thomas Insel
There are so many reasons not to share scientific data – in industry, among academics, and even for some patients. For pharmaceutical companies, data are usually considered proprietary, with sharing limited by intellectual property rules. Research and development is a competitive process with success defined by being the first to bring a lucrative product to market. In universities, research is no less competitive. Scientific success in universities is built around attaining tenure through individual promotion and publications. Read more
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The New Genetics of Autism – Why Environment Matters, IACC Chairman, Dr. Thomas Insel
Last week's autism news was about prevalence. The CDC reported a 78 percent increase in autism prevalence since 2002. This week's autism news is about genetics—three papers in Nature describe new genes associated with autism. For many people, these two stories seem contradictory or, at best, unrelated. Increasing prevalence suggests environmental factors like chemicals and microbes changing over the past decade, whereas genes change over generations. Why is anyone looking for genetic causes when there is such a rapid increase in prevalence? Shouldn't every research dollar be invested in finding the environmental culprit rather than searching for rare gene variants? Read more
Monday, April 2, 2012
IACC Releases Its 2011 Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
On April 2, in honor of the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day and HHS Autism Awareness Month the IACC has released its annual list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field. Read more | Summary of Advances
Statement by Secretary Sebelius on National Autism Awareness Month
In April, we recognize National Autism Awareness Month and the special challenges faced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Read more
Secretary-General's Message for 2012, United Nations Secretary-General
Autism is not limited to a single region or a country; it is a worldwide challenge that requires global action. Read more
Thursday, March 29, 2012
HHS Secretary Names New Public Members to Serve on Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the names of the fifteen individuals invited to participate as public members of the newly reauthorized Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The diverse group invited by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to join the IACC includes three autism self-advocates, several parents of affected children, a practicing developmental pediatrician, and several researchers, and leaders of autism services and research organizations. Many of the nominated individuals serve dual roles, dedicating their professional careers to autism because of a family member with the disorder. National advocacy organizations represented by the invited individuals include Autism Speaks, Simons Foundation, Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, SafeMinds, and the Somali American Autism Foundation. Read more
HHS Announces New Members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that she has invited 15 individuals to serve as public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Read more
Autism Prevalence: More Affected or More Detected? IACC Chairman, Dr. Thomas Insel
Autism is always surprising. Earlier today, the CDC released new numbers from their ongoing surveillance of autism prevalence, the Autism and Developmental Disability Monitoring (ADDM) Network. What was once considered a rare disorder is now reported as affecting 1 in 88 children, 1 in 54 boys. These new numbers, up 78 percent from 2002 and 23 percent from 2006, raise immediate questions. Are more children affected or more detected? Does the increase reflect a growing problem—an epidemic—or do these new numbers reflect an improvement in our ability to diagnose and serve those affected? Read more
Friday, October 28, 2011
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to Continue into 2014; HHS Seeks Nominations for Public Membership
On September 30, 2011, President Obama signed the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) into law, ensuring that all vital Federal autism research and services programs would continue without disruption and allowing the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) to carry on its work until 2014. Read more
Monday, July 11, 2011
IACC Chairman Insel Testifies Before House Committee on the Combating Autism Act and the Accomplishments of the IACC
Testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on July 11, Dr. Thomas Insel spoke about the Combating Autism Act of 2006 and the successful federal coordination and public-private partnership efforts that have resulted from the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) that was created as part of the legislation. Read more
Monday, May 23, 2011
2011 International Meeting For Autism Research Features Opening Address from IACC Chairman Insel and Contributions from IACC Members
The tenth annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) held May 12 – 14 in San Diego, California, attracted nearly 2,000 researchers, advocates, autism specialists, and students from across the globe. Read more
Monday, April 28, 2011
IACC Members Participate in White House Autism Awareness Month Conference
The White House held a conference to celebrate Autism Awareness month on April 25, 2011, gathering research experts, health professionals, advocates, and families to share their ideas on speeding progress in the field and meeting the complex needs of people on the spectrum and their families. Read more
Friday, April 1, 2011
IACC Chairman, Dr. Thomas Insel, Highlights Recent Progress in Honor of National Autism Awareness Month
April is Autism Awareness Month. Each year this is a good time to take stock of progress. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) published its annual Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research today and recently posted the annual update of its Strategic Plan for ASD Research. Read more
Friday, April 1, 2011
On World Autism Awareness Day, IACC Releases 2010 Summary of Advances in ASD Research
In celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, the IACC has released its list of the top twenty scientific advances in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research for 2010. Read more | Summary of Advances
Monday, February 28, 2011
2011 IACC Strategic Plan Includes New Focus on Interventions for Nonverbal People with ASD, Health Promotion Efforts, and Safety
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) has released its 2011 Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research, which is intended to provide a blueprint for future ASD research efforts. Read more
Monday, February 28, 2011
Mother's Testimony to the IACC Sparks Rapid Response to Investigate Autism Rates in Somali Families Living in Minnesota
Ms. Idil Abdull spoke with conviction as she addressed the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) in October 2010, "If you want to know the answer to autism, come and study us. This is your gold mine," said the Somali mother of a child with autism and founder of the Somali American Autism Foundation. Read more | Related Articles
Friday, June 18, 2010
IACC Issued a New Request for Information (RFI) to Inform the Updating of the IACC Strategic Plan
Read more | View the responses
Friday, April 30, 2010
HHS Secretary Sebelius Appoints Five New Members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is announcing the addition of five new public members appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. Read more
Secretary Sebelius Announces New Members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the appointment of five new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a federal advisory committee created in an effort to accelerate progress in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research and services. Read more
Friday, April 2, 2010
IACC Releases Its Annual Summary of Advances in ASD Research on World Autism Awareness Day
In conjunction with the United Nations (UN) designated "World Autism Awareness Day" on April 2, the IACC announced its selection of twenty scientific advances in biomedical and services research for 2009. Read more | Summary of Advances
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Statement By Secretary Sebelius on National Autism Awareness Month
During National Autism Awareness Month, we reflect on an urgent public health challenge and rededicate ourselves to addressing the complex needs of people with autism and their families. Read more
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New 2010 IACC Strategic Plan Emphasizes Research Infrastructure, Non-Verbal People with ASD and the Full Spectrum from Young Children to Adults
The first update to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) strategic plan for autism research received unanimous approval from the 19-member advisory group that drafted the recommendations. The IACC, created under the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006, finalized the 2010 Plan at their meeting on January 19, 2010. Read more
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Advisory Panel Releases First Federal Strategic Plan for Autism Research
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a federal government advisory panel, has released its first blueprint for autism research. The IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research will advise federal agencies and Congress on needs and opportunities for research investigating autism, a complex developmental disorder that affects 1 in 150 children. Read more
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
HHS Secretary Leavitt Announces Members of the New Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today the members appointed to the Department of Health and Human Services' new Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. This committee coordinates efforts within the department to combat autism spectrum disorder through research, screening, intervention, and education. Read more