Autism Research Expected to Prosper Under Obama

At the height of his presidential campaign against Senator John McCain last July, Barack Obama declined the advocacy group Autism Society of Americaʼs invitation to discuss health reform at a town hall meeting. But in a written response, the then-Senator promised to increase federal funding for autism research and treatment to $1 billion each year by the end of his first term in office.Less than two weeks after Obama took the presidential oath, autism researchers are pleased with his outspoken focus on science including, notably, an economic stimulus package that, if accepted by Congress, would dole out $2.5 billion for research at the National Science Foundation and $3.5 billion for research and building maintenance at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).Autism is the only disease or disorder specifically mentioned in the presidential agenda published on the new White House website."I think that the attitude towards science, and the importance of getting evidence and doing research, will be more valued [under Obama]," says Cathy Lord, director of the University of Michigan Autism & Communication Disorders Center.Read more at...SFARI, January 2009.