Excerpt

On April 18 and 19, 2007, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders (the Forum), in response to a request from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, hosted a workshop called “Autism and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research.” The goal of the workshop was to provide a venue to bring together scientists, members of the autism community, and the major sponsors of autism-related research to discuss the most promising scientific opportunities (Box I-1). The focus was on improving the understanding of the ways in which environmental factors such as chemicals, infectious agents, or physiological or psychological stress can affect the development of the brain. In addition, discussions addressed the infrastructure needs for pursuing the identified research opportunities—tools, technologies, and partnerships.

Contents

• The National Academies
• Workshop on Autism and the Environment Challenges and Opportunities for Research Planning Committee
• Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders
• Board on Health Sciences Policy
• Independent Report Reviewers
• Preface
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Proceedings
  • Day 1 April 18, 2007
  • Day 2 April 19, 2007
• Appendixes
  • A. Index of Scientific Opportunities
  • B. Workshop Agenda Autism and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research
  • C. Registered Workshop Participants
  • D. Biographic Sketches of Workshop Planning Committee, Forum Members, Invited Speakers, and Staff

Suggested citation:

Institute of Medicine (IOM). 2008. Autism and the environment: Challenges and opportunities for research. Workshop proceedings. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

The views presented in this publication are those of the editors and attributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.