Some news from Autism Speaks

[Guest guest]

NIH to Fund Research to Advance Vaccine Safety

The NIH has issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) request for

grant applications entitled Research to Advance Vaccine Safety. This grant

mechanism is designed to support research that will contribute to the

overall understanding of vaccine safety and invites studies that will

address a range of topics including physiological and immunological

responses to vaccines and vaccine components, the effect of genetic

variation on immune responses, risk factors and biological markers which

might signify a relationship between certain diseases/disorders and licensed

vaccines, and the application of genomic/molecular technologies to improve

knowledge of vaccine safety. Read more.

Study Shows No Connection Between Autism and Persistence of MMR Virus RNA

A study published this week found that measles virus RNA was no more likely

to be present in the bowel tissue of children with autism than that of

typically developing children. Furthermore, GI symptom and autism onset were

found to be unrelated to MMR vaccine timing. These findings refute a report

from 1998 that indicated autism is associated with the measles virus

vaccine. Geri Dawson, Chief Science Officer at Autism Speaks notes, " This

was a well-designed study that clearly refutes a connection between autism

and the presence of the measles virus RNA. " In light of the study's

suggestion of an association between GI disturbance and language regression,

Dr. Dawson further adds, " given that many children with autism suffer from

GI problems, more studies focused on understanding the cause and treatment

of these problems are needed. " Read more.