NIH Strategic Plans for Autism Research As directed by Congress through the Combating Autism Act, NIH is preparing a strategic plan for autism research in the first quarter of 2008. The draft strategic plan will then be presented to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee for approval. Lyn Redwood, director of SafeMinds, sits on the IACC. Organizations that fund autism research were asked by NIH to submit two documents to start this process off. The first document is the organization's research recommendations for NIH, and the second is a list of the top research initiatives and accomplishments of the organization. SafeMinds submitted both documents, which are provided here along with the original NIH requests. SafeMinds autism research strategic plan recommendations, issued in conjunction with the National Autism Association NIH request for research recommendations for strategic plan NIH request for organizations' top research initiatives and accomplishments (added January 7, 2008)

Campaign for Combating Autism Act and D.O.D. Appropriations Continutes Congressmembers Smith (R-N.J.), Doyle (D- Penn.) and McCarthy (D- N.Y.) asked fellow House members of to sign letters seeking federal funding for autism activities. Read More... (April, 2007)

Department of Defense to Provide $7.5 Million in Autism Research Funding Washington, DC – It was announced last Friday that the Department of Defense (DoD) would manage a $7.5 million Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 congressional appropriation specifically targeting autism spectrum disorder research... (April, 2007)

Update on the Combating Autism Act A letter to parents and friends from SafeMinds, The National Autism Association, Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology, and Autism One (November, 2006)

National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences: THIMEROSAL EXPOSURE IN PEDIATRIC VACCINES [PDF download: 4MB] (October, 2006)

SAFEMINDS SUPPORTS COMBATING AUTISM ACT PASSED BY SENATE DESPITE SPECIFIC CONCERNS Strong Benefits of the Bill Outweigh Some Major Drawbacks (August 23, 2006)