Jan. 8, 2007
U-M leading national effort to
find the cause of autism
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—University of
Michigan researchers are leading an 11-university consortium to
gather and bank DNA samples from 3,000 autism patients over the next
three years.
The Simons Simplex Collection
Autism Research Initiative, expected to cost $10 million over its
first two years, is being spearheaded by Catherine Lord, director of
the U-M Autism and Communication Disorders Center.
The consortium also includes: Yale
University, Harvard University, Boston University, Columbia
University, Washington University, the University of Washington, the
University of Illinois-Chicago, Emory University, McGill University
in Montreal and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
"It's an exciting opportunity,"
Lord said. "Collecting this data will greatly speed up the process
of finding the causes of autism."
The Simons initiative, begun by
billionaire money manager Jim Simons and his wife, Marilyn, was set
up with the goal of investing $100 million toward finding a cure for
the developmental disorder. The Center for Disease Control estimates
that between one and three of every 500 children contract some form
of the disease.
While there are core deficits that
define Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) there is also a great deal of
heterogeneity among children and adults with ASD in terms of
behaviors, level of functioning and co-morbid conditions such as
mental retardation or obsessive compulsive disorder.
Recent findings in the molecular
genetics of autism and in family transmission patterns suggest that
there are likely several, if not many, autisms. Researchers say it
is important to identify subtypes of autism that are associated with
risk factors or etiologies in order to develop appropriate
treatments or prevention strategies.
The Simons Initiative to create a
collection of simplex (families with just one child with autism) is
aimed to support research across a range of areas with an adequate
sample to address different sub-types.
The Simons Initiative consists of
both senior and junior investigator support as well as the creation
of a bank of cell lines and phenotypic data that will be available
for scientists around the world.
The concept of a publicly available
(through application by scientists) databank builds on the example
of the Autism Genetic Recourse Exchange (AGRE), created by Cure
Autism Now several years ago as well as large scale research
projects such as the Women's Health Initiative.
The Cure Autism Now effort focused
on families where two or more siblings have autism but the
11-university effort will tackle the 90 percent of autism cases
where the patient is the only member of the family with autism.
Families will be recruited to
participate in an initial assessment and then invited into other
research projects as work continues. The Simons Initiative will be
carried out in existing university-based clinics by individual
investigators from different universities throughout North America.
The goal is to collect
well-defined, carefully characterized samples of families with one
child with Autistim Spectrum Disorder and at least one typically
developing child.
Lord, a nationally known pioneer in
autism research, played a key role in learning how to properly
diagnose two-year-olds a decade ago and is making new gains
diagnosing young children at the U-M center.
While medications have helped with
related conditions such as depression and hyperactivity, the best
way to deal with autism is to intervene as early as possible to
treat the condition, she said. Children who developed even some very
simple speech skills prior to the first time they were evaluated at
age two were far more likely to overcome the disorder that is now
found in one out of every 200 children, she said.
Autism is a complex developmental
disability that typically appears during the first three years of
life. Autistic spectrum disorders impact the normal development of
the brain processes related to social interaction and communication
skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties
with verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction and
leisure or play activities.
For more information about
participating in the research studies, call the center at (734)
936-8600.
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