The National Alliance for Autism Research, USA, has recently committed $6.2 million to fund 40 research grants and fellowships in the U.S., Canada and Europe focusing on a wide range of disciplines, including the neurosciences, language and communication, behavioral sciences and genetics. NAAR’s 2004 funding commitment also contains financial support for two collaborative projects with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NAAR Board of Trustees approved this year’s funding commitment following the eighth annual meeting of the organization’s Scientific Advisory Board. NAAR’s 2004 research commitment totals include $4 million to fund 25 pilot studies, 14 pre- and post-doctoral fellowships and ongoing funding for training programs in Canada co-sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. In addition, NAAR has committed $2 million towards the NAAR Autism Genome Project, a NIH partnership that is the largest research collaboration ever to focus on the genetics of the disorder; and $200,000 towards expansion of the Autism Tissue Program, a parent-led brain tissue donation program dedicated to autism research and jointly supported by the NIH.

NAAR’s 2004 research commitment represents an increase of approximately $1.3 million over last year’s commitment. NAAR funds autism research projects based on the recommendations of its prestigious Scientific Advisory Board and its Lay Review Committee.

NAAR-funded pilot studies and fellowships have proven to be a sound investment. To date, research initially funded by NAAR has made a dramatic impact on the autism research landscape in North America and Europe and has been leveraged to attract more than $48 million in autism research awards by the National Institutes of Health and other governmental sources.

NAAR has been able to again increase its funding commitment to autism research due to the remarkable support of its donors and the amazing success of its Walk F.A.R. for NAAR autism research walkathons and the dedicated volunteers who bring these events to life. CONTINUES.....