Author: Coalition of Autism Scientists
Published: 2025/04/25
Publication Type: Announcement
Topic: Disability Press Releases – Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis – Introduction – Main – Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article presents a press release from the newly fashioned Coalition of Autism Scientists, a bunch of main U.S. researchers led by Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg, in response to current remarks and initiatives by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The coalition rejects Kennedy’s narrative about autism’s incidence and causes, emphasizing that many years of rigorous analysis have already established autism as a fancy, multifactorial situation involving a whole lot of genetic elements, environmental interactions, and various neurological pathways.
The scientists specific concern that Kennedy’s dismissal of this physique of work, and his plan to quickly conduct a research centered on environmental toxins, dangers undermining public belief, trivializing scientific progress, and misrepresenting the wants and experiences of autistic people. The coalition urges adherence to clear, evidence-based analysis protocols, together with public commentary and unbiased knowledge evaluation, to make sure that future research construct on established information and genuinely profit autistic folks and their households. This data is authoritative and useful as a result of it displays the consensus of skilled researchers and advocates for analysis integrity, which is essential for guiding coverage, funding, and assist providers affecting folks with disabilities and their communities – Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Coalition of Autism Scientists Critiques U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative
Main Item
The newly fashioned Coalition of Autism Scientists right now issued a press release in response to remarks and actions taken by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) relating to the research of autism. Led by Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Director of the Center for Autism Research, Boston University, this rising group of skilled analysis scientists from throughout the United States got here collectively to reject Mr. Kennedy’s false narrative in regards to the incidence and causes of autism, as an alternative urging HHS to give attention to established, analysis approaches that already inform the worldwide understanding of autism.
Dr. Tager-Flusberg stated:
“The Coalition of Autism Scientists got here collectively to demand respect for autism analysis. Instead of specializing in questions which were requested and answered, restricted and useful analysis {dollars} should give attention to what we do not but learn about autism in order that we are able to meet the pressing wants of autism people and their households.”
Full Statement from the Coalition of Autism Scientists
“For greater than three many years, the National Institutes of Health has invested substantial assets into analysis to advance information about autism spectrum dysfunction. As scientists devoted to this enterprise, we now have witnessed many exceptional achievements in our area revealing the complexity of autism. These embody: discovery of a whole lot of genes related to autism; identification of environmental elements which will work together with genetic predisposition; information about variations in mind structure and performance; documenting the numerous prevalence charges throughout the globe; divergent shows and extremely variable outcomes; early improvement of mind and behavioral indicators in infants; and the event and analysis of progressive interventions that enhance autism signs and improve high quality of life for people and their households.”
“Considering these advances, we had been deeply troubled to listen to the Secretary of Health & Human Services dismiss previous analysis, downplay the causal position of genes, and painting autistic folks in ways in which counter our experiences and demean their worth to society. We are unified in our dedication to conduct the very best high quality analysis and construct mutual respect and belief with the general public. This belief is severely threatened by the Secretary’s interpretation of the rising prevalence charges and his plans to hold out a research that can ship findings inside a number of months on an environmental toxin that causes autism. We totally assist real advances within the area, so we urge the Secretary to register the deliberate research protocol, present time for public remark, embody unbiased knowledge analysts, and make the information obtainable to the scientific neighborhood. Following these broadly accepted scientific practices that guarantee analysis integrity, will enable the deliberate research to construct on the sturdy basis of prior analysis and assist information future work to unravel the causes of this advanced dysfunction and result in new approaches in how we assist people and their households.”
Coalition of Autism Scientists
List of Signatories to the April 25, 2025 Media Statement: “Coalition of Autism Scientists Critiques U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative.”
Signatories and Affiliations:
- A Ionadi, PhD –
- Aaron D. Besterman, MD – UCSD and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego
- Aaron J. Kaat PhD – Northwestern University
- Aaron Shield, Ph.D. – Miami University
- Allison B. Ratto, PhD –
- Amanda V. Bakian, PhD –
- Amber Davis, PhD, MSW – Johns Hopkins University
- Amie Duncan, Ph.D. –
- Amy Esler, PhD –
- Amy Vaughan Van Hecke, PhD – Marquette University
- Angela Scarpa, PhD –
- Anne V. Kirby, PhD, OTR/L –
- Annette Estes, Ph.D – University of Washington
- Ashley de Marchena, PhD –
- B. Blair Braden, PhD –
- Ben Schwartzman, PhD – University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Benjamin E. Yerys, Ph.D. –
- Benjamin L Handen, PhD –
- Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D. – Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Brian A. Boyd, Ph.D. –
- Brittany N. Hand, PhD, OTR/L –
- Brittany Travers, PhD – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Carissa J. Cascio, Ph.D. –
- Carla A. Mazefsky, PhD –
- Catherine Lord, Ph.D. – UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
- Cheryl Klaiman –
- Christina Meihua Young, PhD – UCSF
- Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH – Professor, Portland State University; Adjunct Professor, Oregon Health & Science University; Editor-in-Chief, Autism in Adulthood
- Christine Wu Nordahl, PhD –
- Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D. – Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)
- Clare Harrop, PhD –
- Connie Kasari, PhD –
- Craig J. Newschaffer, Ph.D. – Pennsylvania State University
- Daina Tagavi, PhD – University of Washington
- Daniel Garrison, PhD –
- Daniel L. Coury, MD – Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Danielle Bronk, PhD., APdN –
- Darren Hedley, PhD – Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- David G. Amaral, Ph.D. – UC Davis
- David Hessl, PhD Professor – MIND Institute, University of California Davis
- David S. Mandell, ScD –
- Diana L. Robins, Ph.D. –
- Dora M Raymaker, PhD – Portland State University
- Elisabeth Sheridan, PhD –
- Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD – Drexel University
- Elliott H. Sherr MD PhD – Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, UCSF
- Erin Kang, PhD – Montclair State University
- Eugenia Afinoguenova, PhD –
- Gabriel S. Dichter, PhD –
- Greg Siegle, Ph.D. – University of Pittsburgh
- Hannah Morton, PhD – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Haylie L. Miller, Ph.D. – University of Michigan
- Heather J. Nuske, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
- Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D. – Boston University
- Helen Willsey, PhD – UCSF
- Hilary Gomes, PhD, ABPdN –
- Hoa Schneider, PhD –
- Inge-Marie Eigsti, Ph.D. –
- Isabel M. Smith, PhD – Dalhousie University
- Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD –
- James C. McPartland, Ph.D. –
- James W. Bodfish, Ph.D. – Vanderbilt University
- Jason Wolff, Ph.D. – University of Minnesota
- Jed Elison, Ph.D. – University of Minnesota
- Jennifer Edidin, Ph.D. – Rush University
- Jennifer Foss-Feig, PhD –
- Jennifer L. Frymiare, PhD –
- Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD – NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain
- Jessica Girault, Ph.D. –
- Jessica M. Schwartzman, Ph.D. – University of Southern California
- Jessica Nina Lester, PhD – Indiana University Bloomington
- Jessica Steinbrenner, PhD –
- Jill Harris, Ph.D. –
- Jill L Silverman, PhD – MIND Institute
- John D. Herrington, PhD – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Jonathan Sebat Ph.D. – University of California, San Diego
- Joseph D Buxbaum, MSc, PhD – Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai
- Joseph Piven, M.D. –
- Josh Lee, PhD – UC Davis Health
- Juhi Pandey, PhD –
- Kaitlynn Baiden – UC Santa Barbara
- Kara Hume, PhD – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Katarzyna Chawarska PhD – Yale Child Study Center Yale School of Medicine
- Kate Fiske, PhD, BCBA-D – North Star Family Autism Center
- Katherine Pickard, PhD – Marcus Autism Center, Emory University School of Medicine
- Kathryn E. Unruh, PhD –
- Khalilah Johnson, PhD, OTR/L –
- Kristen Gillespie-Lynch – College of Staten Island & The Graduate Center, CUNY
- Lark Huang-Storms, PhD – Seattle Children’s Hospital; Oregon Health & Science University
- Laura Klinger, Ph.D. –
- Lauren A. Weiss, PhD –
- Lauren Bishop, PhD, MSW –
- Lindsay Shea, DrPH – Drexel University
- Lisa A Croen, PhD – Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
- Lou Eckart, PHD –
- Louise Gallagher MB BCh PhD – The Hospital for Sick Children, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The University of Toronto
- M. Daniele Fallin, PhD –
- Marisol Marroquin, PhD, LMSW – Rutgers University
- Mary Carlson, Ph.D – Emerita, Marquette University
- Matthew W. Mosconi, Ph.D. –
- Meghan Swanson, PhD –
- Mendy Minjarez, PhD –
- Michal Cook, MSW MA – University of Washington
- Michelle D. Failla, PhD –
- Morgan Engelmann, PhD – Boys Town National Research Hospital
- Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, PhD – Advocacy Without Borders
- Nancy Cheak-Zamora, PhD, MA –
- Natalia Kleinhans, PhD – University of Washington
- Noah Sasson, Ph.D. – The University of Texas at Dallas
- Peter Szatmari MD – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto Ontario, Canada
- Pr. Eric Fombonne, M.D. – Oregon Health & Science University
- Professor Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, MD –
- Rachel Schuck, PhD – Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Raphael Bernier, PhD –
- Rebecca C. Shaffer, PsyD –
- Robert H. LaRue, Ph.D. – Rutgers University
- Robin Shafer, PhD –
- Roma Vasa MD – Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Rujuta B. Wilson, MD, MS –
- Ruth B Grossman, Ph.D. CCC-SLP – Emerson College
- Ryan E Adams, PhD –
- Sally Ozonoff PhD –
- Samuel L. Odom, Ph.D. – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Sara Jane Webb PhD –
- Sarida Paley, Psy. D –
- Shafali Jeste, MD –
- Shulamite Green, Ph.D. – University of California, Los Angeles
- Somer L. Bishop, Ph.D. –
- Stelios Georgiades, PhD –
- Stephen C Noctor, Ph.D. – UC Davis MIND Institute
- Stephen Gentles, MSc, PhD –
- Stephen J. Sheinkopf, PhD –
- Stephen R Dager, MD –
- Susan L. Santangelo, ScD – MaineHealth Tufts University School of Medicine
- Suzanne L. Macari PhD – Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine
- Teal W. Benevides, PhD, MS, OTR/L –
- Vanessa Bal, PhD –
- Wayne Fisher, PhD –
- Whitney Ence, PhD, BCBA-D – University of California, San Francisco
- Zachary J Williams, MD, PhD – UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
The Coalition of Autism Scientists
The Coalition of Autism Scientists fashioned in 2025 and is comprised of the main autism researchers throughout the United States. It is led by Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Director of the Center for Autism Research, Boston University.
Editorial Note: The coalition’s public critique underscores a significant rigidity in autism analysis: the necessity to stability open scientific inquiry with respect for established proof and the lived experiences of autistic folks. As political narratives more and more form analysis agendas, it’s important for policymakers and the general public to acknowledge the hazards of sidelining many years of validated science in favor of expedient or ideologically pushed research. Only by sustaining rigorous requirements and together with the voices of these most affected can analysis translate into significant assist and improved high quality of life for autistic people – Disabled World (DW).
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was chosen for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) resulting from its relevance to the incapacity neighborhood. Originally authored by Coalition of Autism Scientists and printed on 2025/04/25, this content material might have been edited for fashion, readability, or brevity. For additional particulars or clarifications, Coalition of Autism Scientists may be contacted at coalitionofautismscientists.org NOTE: Disabled World doesn’t present any warranties or endorsements associated to this text.
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Cite This Page: Coalition of Autism Scientists. (2025, April 25). Coalition of Autism Scientists Critiques HHS Autism Research Plan. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 27, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/information/pressreleases/kennedy.php
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