Autism Speaks and NAAR Complete Merger

[Guest guest]

Autism Speaks and the National Alliance for Autism

Research (NAAR) Complete Merger

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2006--

Unanimous Votes by Both

Boards of Directors Combine Two of the Leading Research and Advocacy

Organizations in the Fight Against the Nation's Fastest Growing Serious

Developmental Disorder

Autism Speaks and the National Alliance for Autism Research

(NAAR) have completed their merger, bringing together two of the leading

organizations engaged in the battle against autism, it was announced today by

Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks. A memorandum of understanding was

first announced in the late fall. The directors of Autism Speaks and NAAR

respectively voted unanimously to complete the transaction. The combined

organization will be known as Autism Speaks.

The consolidation of the two charities is based on their

joint commitment to accelerate and fund biomedical research into the causes,

prevention, treatments and cure for autism spectrum disorders; to increase

awareness of the nation's fastest growing developmental disorder; and to

advocate for the needs of affected families. Autism spectrum disorders are

diagnosed in one in 166 children, affecting four times as many boys as girls.

The diagnosis has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose

cause and cure remain unknown.

" The completion of this merger marks the tipping point

in the autism community, bringing together the best science, collaborative

minds and impassioned advocates, " said Roithmayr. " A unified autism

community is better prepared to ensure that the general public is aware and

responsive to this national healthcare crisis. "

" NAAR's goal has always been to encourage, fund,

support and facilitate biomedical research related to autism, and that remains

the primary goal of the newly combined organization, " said Dr.

London, co-founder of NAAR and newly named Executive Board Member of Autism

Speaks. " We are very confident that the merger will lead to more money

being dedicated to the types of scientific projects NAAR has funded for the

past 11 years. " Autism Speaks will adopt NAAR's distinguished scientific

advisory board and also its scientific advisory committee, the latter with

Autism Speaks' Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Goldstein, President of the

Kennedy Krieger Institute at s Hopkins, serving as Chair.

NAAR board members Ann Gibbons, and Dr. London

will join the board of Autism Speaks. Dr. London will also join Autism Speaks'

executive and scientific advisory committees. Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, who

was a member of NAAR's scientific advisory board, will become a member of the

Autism Speaks board of directors in addition to serving on its scientific

advisory committee. All of Autism Speaks' current board members will remain in

place. Bob will continue to serve as chairman of the board of Autism

Speaks and Suzanne will continue to serve as vice chair. Mark Roithmayr

will remain as president of Autism Speaks. NAAR CEO Glenn Tringali will assume

the newly created position of executive vice president.

Autism Speaks will maintain and expand NAAR's international

Walk for Autism Research grassroots fundraising program and its international

affiliates. Autism Speaks will continue to place a high priority on raising

awareness of autism, as well as on raising funds and supporting research,

including NAAR's Autism Tissue Program and all previously announced research

programs.

Autism Speaks, Inc.

Autism Speaks was co-founded by Suzanne and Bob in

February, 2005 in response to the diagnosis of their grandson. Bob is

chairman and CEO of NBC Universal and is vice chairman and executive officer of

General Electric. The organization's guiding principles have been to raise

public awareness about autism and its devastating effects on individuals,

families, and society, and to raise funds to support effective biomedical

research in autism. Since its launch in February, 2005, Autism Speaks has

raised more than $30 million.

National Alliance

for Autism Research (NAAR)

Founded

in 1994, NAAR was the first national nonprofit organization in the country

dedicated to funding and accelerating biomedical research exclusively for

autism spectrum disorders. In 1997, NAAR put biomedical research on the map

when it awarded five grants, each totaling approximately $30,000, to pioneering

autism researchers. To date, NAAR has committed almost $30 million to fund more

than 270 autism research projects, fellowships and collaborative programs

worldwide -- more than any other non-governmental organization. The research

initially funded by NAAR has been leveraged into more than $64.5 million in

autism research awards by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other

governmental funding sources. NAAR's ongoing funding of pilot projects and

collaborative research projects, as well as its advocacy for increased

government funding, has made a dramatic impact on the autism research landscape

in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Jaclyn

Merens

South Florida Regional Director

NAAR and Autism Speaks - Working Together

2151 West Hillsboro Blvd.

Suite 303

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Phone:

Fax:

web: www.autismwalk.org