We hope you’ll stay tuned to the Autism Speaks website this week for daily video and news coverage of the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), in Atlanta, May 14-17. The annual meeting is the world’s largest gathering of autism scientists, doctors, therapists, parents and individuals on the spectrum. Autism Speaks and the Simons Foundation for Autism Research are the conferences major sponsors.
“At Autism Speaks, we look forward to each IMFAR as an opportunity to celebrate the discoveries, innovations and other professional achievements on display from the researchers, clinicians, training fellows and other research partners that Autism Speaks has funded and collaborated with,” says Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Rob Ring. “It’s also a time to honor the generous support we receive from the volunteers and donors who provide the resources that fund our scientific work.”
Follow our daily coverage of IMFAR 2014 here.
Over these four days, Autism Speaks staff and its funded researchers will be making more than 300 presentations. You can download a full listing here. Today, we’re pleased to introduce some of the Autism Speaks science staff who will be playing particularly important roles at this year’s meeting:
Chief Science OfficerRob Ring will deliver an IMFAR welcome address with an update on Autism Speaks’ scientific mission, Friday morning. Dr. Ring will also be a featured speaker at the meeting’s Early Career Development Preconference Workshop and will co-present on the Autism Speaks Preclinical Autism Consortium for Therapeutics. At the annual IMFAR Stakeholders Luncheon on Friday, he will share the podium to make a special announcement about Autism BrainNet. (Stay tuned.) Finally, Dr. Ring will stay in Atlanta after IMFAR to participate in a fundraiser for the Marcus Autism Center Saturday night and Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Georgia on Sunday. Follow him on Twitter @DrRobRingAS.
Andy Shih, senior vice president for scientific affairs, will co-host the annual reception of the Autism Speaks Global Autism Public Health Initiative, meeting with Autism Speaks global research partners and attending associated presentations and discussions. Follow him on Twitter @ASAndyShih.
Head of Medical Research Paul Wang, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, will attend a wide array of discussions and presentations on medical conditions associated with autism, outcome measures and biomarkers for autism and the development of medicines and other treatments for autism.
Alycia Halladay, senior director for environmental and clinical sciences, will co-host the annual meeting of the Autism Speaks Toddler Treatment Network, a meeting made possible by the generous support of the Royal Arch Research Assistance. Dr. Halladay will likewise co-host a meeting of the Environmental Epidemiology of Autism Research Network. Separately, she will co-present on the Autism Speaks Early Access to Care Community Screening program and help coordinate a session on the inclusion of children with autism in mainstream settings. In addition, she helped facilitate an IMFAR panel discussion on environmental epigenetics and autism. Following IMFAR, Dr. Halladay will participate in Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Georgia, on Sunday. Follow her on Twitter @AHalladayAS.
Ed Clayton, senior director for strategic funding and grants administration, will be meeting with Autism Speaks-funded researchers and prospective grantees, as well as scientific advisors.
Donna Murray, senior director of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, will co-present the early results of research on “Validity and Reliability of the Parent Activation Measure for Developmental Disabilities.” Follow her on Twitter @DonnMur.
Dan Smith, senior director for discovery neuroscience, will attend the “Technology and Autism” Special Interest Group and will co-present on the Autism Speaks Preclinical Autism Consortium for Therapeutics. He will also be participating in a wide array of discussions and presentations on advances in neuroscience research and the development of therapeutic and assistive technologies. Follow him on Twitter @DrDGSmith.
Michael Rosanoff, associate director for public health research, will participate in a number of meetings he helped plan and develop, including “Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Identity in Autism Research and Practice,” “Global Knowledge Translation for Research on Early Identification and Intervention in Autism” and the Global Autism Public Health Initiative reception. Follow him on Twitter @AS_ScienceGuy.
Amy Daniels, assistant director for public health research, will co-present on the Autism Speaks Early Access to Care Community Screening program and co-host the annual reception of the Autism Speaks Global Autism Public Health Initiative. After IMFAR, Dr. Daniels will be joining Walk Now for Autism Speaks: Georgia, Sunday, May 18. Follow her on Twitter @AmyDaniels_AS.