NEWS
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ASD and ADHD in Adults
Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment workshop at the Institute of Psychiatry
Importance of research
To read about the importance of research into autism to a family, written by a mother of an autistic child, see Times Online article
Autism Speaks hosts annual House of Commons Reception
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International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR)
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News report
Latest report measures the national cost of autism to the UK at £28 billion a year. Read The economic consequence of autism in the UK (opens new window)
Documentary about autism
Parents Steve and Parool Jeppeson have an autistic son called Stian. They are given the unique opportunity to meet the scientists on the forefront of autism research in a hope to find out more about Stian’s condition. ‘What Can Science Do for Me – Autism’ is a must watch programme. Watch online here (opens new window)
Research Update
A new publication in the journal 'Brain' describes a significant anatomical difference in the face processing area of brain donors with autism compared to non-affected donors.
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Authors for Autism Research
Find out about our EBay wins at our Character Auction which ended on 2 April, World Autism Awareness Day!
Key terms in autism and autism spectrum disorder research
This document describes some of the most important ideas in modern day research on autism. It is intended to help people, and especially parents, who may be neither doctors nor scientists to understand better what research might offer their children. For the sake of convenience, the term “autism” is used to cover the whole of autism spectrum disorder or ASD.
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Her name is Sabine
Winner of the FIPRESCI award at Cannes Film Festival 2007. An intelligent, moving and beautiful portrait of Sabine, a 38-year-old autistic woman, filmed by her sister, the famous French actress Sandrine Bonnaire.
UK Premiere - Sunday 9 March 6PM
The Costs of Autism – Latest Report
An Autism Research Centre in Wales
Plans have been announced for the creation of an Autism Research Centre in Wales. The Centre will be a key component in the development of a Welsh national strategy for helping those with autism.
Read press release (opens pdf)
Nikken Europe
Part of the global company that promotes wellness through its life enhancing product range, has found a unique way of supporting Autism Speaks.
With every sale of Nikken’s magnetic sports bracelet, a donation is made to Autism Speaks. Since the launch of the bracelets in the summer, they have been selling like hot cakes and to date, a fabulous £33,766 has been donated to Autism Speaks.
We are extremely grateful to Nikken for their generous support.
Research into Autism is severely under-funded.
New Philanthropy Capital Report on Autism and Recommendation of Autism Speaks
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism
The group aims to account for the difference between the policies we debate in Parliament and what we hear about the impact of those policies from parents, professionals and people with autism.
Read their key findings of this report and MP recommendations
Letter from Hilary Gilfoy, Autism Speaks' UK Chief Executive to The Times
Genetic Engineering
Researchers at the University of Texas' have genetically engineered mice with a genetic mutation that has been found in some people with autism. This may offer researchers a new means for studying how specific defects in brain development might lead to autism. Read more.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism: Policy into Practice (opens pdf)
Radio Interview
BBC Radio Berkshire interview - Lynn Hart, Head of Community Fundraising, Autism Speaks. Interview to discuss a donation via Reading FC of £2000 from football's Premier League.
Press Article
Hunting the Gene - The Times Online
Parents and scientists are hoping that a new detailed analysis based on human genome will bring a big breakthrough within a year.
Press Article
Grandparent Power - Oxford Times
Don't underestimate what you have to offer - (opens a pdf)
Press article
The £50 million giveaway - SAGA
Dame Stephanie Shirley, a war refugee who against the odds built up an internationally successful technology group, has given a huge chunk of her fortune to fund education and research into autism, which scarred the short life of her son.
House of Commons reception speech
Dame Stephanie Shirley's opening speech at the Autism Speaks activity update.
Press article
Autism: The battle to raise funds - Mature Times
Dame Stephanie Shirley's interview on her working life and her passion for raising money for autism research.
Preliminary Results of the Autism Genome Project
Autism Speaks, together with an international consortium of researchers and participating families, today announced the publication of the preliminary results from the largest-ever autism genome scan in Nature Genetics, one of the world's most prestigious research publications. To read more, please click here.
Cooksey Review of Health Research
In his budget speech in March 2006 Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, announced a single, ring-fenced budget of at least £1billion to support the health research funded by the Medical Research Council and the NHS. He then asked Sir David Cooksey to conduct a consultation and review on how best to organise this single research fund. Medical research charities were one of a number of groups invited to contribute to the review. To see Autism Speaks response, in which we call for greater priority to be given to research into conditions such as autism that carry a large economic and social as well as healthcare burden, click here. The review will feed in to the 2006 pre-budget report, published in November.