Accomplishments
Since its inception in 2000 SafeMinds has:
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Established the link between mercury and autism through the landmark paper, "Autism, A Novel Form of Mercury Poisoning." SafeMinds is the driving force pushing forward science that links environmental factors, such as mercury, to autism.
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Sponsored almost $1 million in research related specifically to mercury and adverse neurological outcomes. This level of financial commitment establishes SafeMinds as the largest private non-profit organization funding mercury and autism-related research.
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Brought this issue to national attention by publishing peer-reviewed articles, networking with leading scientists in the fields of toxicology and autism research, testifying before government committees and working with David Kirby on the publication of Evidence of Harm.
- Relentlessly pursued the scientific truth about mercury and neurodevelopmental disorders. SafeMinds provides constant surveillance and vigilance on misinformation about this issue in the media and provides rapid and high-quality responses to this misinformation.
SafeMinds ultimate goal is to find the truth –– to encourage and support efforts to conduct medical research that provide credible findings to support that the mercury-autism hypothesis is true and to help find treatments that will reverse the damage these children have incurred.
SafeMinds continues to advance science by funding groundbreaking research that demonstrates the deleterious effects of mercury. During 2009 SafeMinds granted $75,000 for phase two of Dr. Laura Hewitson’s (University of Pittsburgh) primate research on gut, immune and central nervous system interactions with childhood vaccines. The first in a series of papers from Dr. Hewitson’s phase one research was published in the Journal of Neurotoxicology in October 2009. It demonstrated significant delays in survival behaviors among young monkeys exposed to a weight- and developmental age-adjusted birth dose of a Thimerosal containing Hepatitis B vaccine. See SafeMinds press release here.
Dr. Jill James, from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, published SafeMinds funded research entitled: Cellular and mitochondrial glutathione redox imbalance in lymphoblastoid cells derived from children with autism in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. This study's findings suggest that ASD individuals have an impaired ability to neutralize and detoxify harmful molecules called reactive oxidized species at the cellular and mitochondrial level, resulting in what is termed oxidative stress. Individuals with ASD are thus more at risk for harm from toxicants such as Thimerosal, which increase oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to many diseases such as atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Fragile X Syndrome and Alzheimer’s, as well as autism, but this is the first study to look at indicators of oxidative stress at the cellular and subcellular level in those with autism, and what the cellular response to Thimerosal is in cells from children with autism.
We continued collaborative research funding with the Autism Collaboration, as well as disseminated a critical analysis of the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) Study findings of compared blood mercury levels in children with and without an autism spectrum disorder published in Environmental Health Perspectives. SafeMinds also critiqued increased prevalence rates in autism released late last year from the National Children’s Health Survey and from the Centers for Disease Control that now estimate the prevalence of autism at 1 in 91 to 1 in 110. Of note in our critiques is that the data from these studies continues to demonstrate a correlation in the rise of autism to that of high levels of Thimerosal exposure via vaccines that remains
Consistent with the expansion of our mission to include other environmental sources of mercury, SafeMinds also funded a white paper, “Environmental Mercury and Risk of Autism,” which discussed strong historical and toxicological evidence linking mercury to neurodegenerative disease and autism.
We continue to make the science supporting our community's concerns known to policymakers through our board members tireless travel across the U.S. to meet with government officials to discuss needed policy change and encourage support of legislation. This year many of our board members traveled and represented and participate at meetings such as the National Institute of Health’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) to advocate for research on environmental factors driving the autism epidemic, accountability and meaningful public participation; National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) and their writing workgroup to advocate for research to close acknowledged vaccine safety research gaps to insure that the safest vaccine possible are in use; the Advisory Committee on Childhood Vaccines to advocate for transparency in vaccine injury awards and improved vaccine safety measures; and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Public Interest Partners to work toward a higher degree of investigation on the health outcomes on toxic exposures to mercury.
SafeMinds board members also participated in the grant review process for the Department of Defense autism research program; the CDC stakeholders meeting (by invitation only) on H1N1 swine flu; and the Congressional Briefing sponsored by Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Smith on autism.
We also provided one of the most comprehensive responses to the review of the National Vaccine Plan and advocated for a Safety-First agenda to understand mechanisms of vaccine injury, provide a comprehensive safety net for those injured and assure the safest vaccines are in use.
SafeMinds consistently pushes beyond our reader base to the broader public through its sponsorship of Age of Autism. Board Members Jim Moody, Katie Wright, Mark Blaxill are regular contributors to this dynamic autism newspaper, with our own Mark Blaxill as editor.
We have also improved our newsletter frequency; launched a more user friendly website; attended and/or presented at conferences such as DAN!, Autism One, National Autism Association, US Autism & Asperger Association, and National Vaccine Information Center; distributed over 10,000 flu shot brochures to countless parents, professionals and physicians; launched e-flu cards; published the “Protect Yourself Series”; as well as lending direct financial support to families struggling with autism via our participation in AutismCares.
2008 Accomplishments
As SafeMinds continues to serve the public in accomplishing our mission, below are some highlights of 2008:
Research: SafeMinds is expanding the understanding of mercury and its role in autism through the funding studies such as Dr. Thomas Burbacher's "Thimerosal Toxicity" at the University of Washington. SafeMinds also supported, through a $10,000 donation, parent-driven research as part of the Autism Collaboration through Autism Research Institute.
We provided timely and publicized critical analysis of studies such as a Critique of Schechter & Grether Paper on California's Autism DDS Data and Thimerosal Exposure and editorial comments on New Findings on Rapamycin Treatment for Tuberous Sclerosis and Possibly Autism, and the Possible Link to Mercury. In addition, we have compiled an extensive online library of science and medical articles on autism, mitochondria and mercury in response to Poling case.
Policy: We continue to make the science supporting our community's concerns known to policymakers through our board members tireless travel across the U.S. to meet with government officials to discuss needed policy change and encourage support of legislation and to participate and attend pivotal committee and agency meetings such as the National Institute on Health Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Strategic Planning and Committee. Meetings to advocate for the inclusion of biomedical definitions and investigations of environmental risk factors related to autism in the national research agenda. SafeMinds has also spearheaded community consensus letters on IACC efforts to ensure a unified voice is represented in IACC efforts. Board members also participated in grant review meetings with the Department of Defense and attended meetings held by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and attended the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting to stay abreast of policy changes to come.
Outreach: Throughout the year SafeMinds has reached out to raise awareness on the dangers of mercury. We sponsored David Kirby's Town Hall meetings across the nation to discuss recent developments in vaccines and autism as well as the Age of Autism blog launched by Dan Olmsted. SafeMinds board members contribute articles to Age of Autism and the Huffington Post. We doubled the number of informational e-newsletters sent to the community, distributed thousands of flu brochures across the country and our board members presented at Autism One, DAN! Conferences, NAA Conferences, USAAA Conferences and local meetings. SafeMinds sponsored and hosted a scientific session at the 25th International Neurotoxicology Conference held in Rochester, NY on Environmental Etiologies of Neurological Disorders; Scientific, Translational and Policy Implications and, as a partner of AutismCares, we provided direct financial support to children with autism and their families in crisis.
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