Autism network mergers aim to improve care, research standards

By Ross Tomlin

If strength is found in numbers, autism patients stand to benefit from recent mergers of organizations supporting research into the developmental brain disorder, say experts at Baylor College of Medicine.

Earlier this year, Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization, joined forces with Cure Autism Now, the leading private funder of autism research. And last October, Cure Autism Now merged operations with the clinical research organization, Autism Treatment Network.

"These different groups are trying to collaborate and use their resources as effectively and efficiently as possible," said Diane Treadwell-Deering, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM and director of the child psychiatry service at Texas Children's Hospital. "United, they're much more able to make an impact when it comes to legislation and policy-making as well as insurance companies for coverage of needed services."

The mergers have established a national community of physicians, clinicians, researchers and families hoping to enable collaborative opportunities for new treatment approaches while promoting healthcare reform in autism treatment. The common goal is the advancement of a standard of care similar to childhood cancers and cystic fibrosis that is currently lacking for autism and related behavioral disorders. Nowhere is the collaborative spirit more evident than at BCM, says Treadwell-Deering.

"There are people from a variety of different fields who are working together here at BCM in this area," said Treadwell-Deering. "We've got folks from a variety of medical disciplines and basic science disciplines who are collaborating on developing research projects."

Autism affects roughly one in every 166 children in the United States.