FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 24, 2001

CONTACT: Martha Alcott
(916) 734-9027
Pager: (916) 762-9846

UC DAVIS AUTISM RESEARCHER TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- David G. Amaral, research director of the M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute at UC Davis is testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Government Reform in Washington, D.C. The committee is holding a two-day hearing April 25-26 on "Autism - Why the Increased Rates? A One Year Update."

A variety of experts, including Amaral, is available to discuss various aspects of autism and ongoing research at the M.I.N.D. Institute. The Institute is taking a novel approach to understanding the underlying causes and treatments of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. With the recent $34 million allocation from the state of California, the Institute is poised to bring unprecedented attention and collaborative resources to the problem.

THE PROMISE OF NEW RESEACH -- David G. Amaral, Ph.D., research director of the M.I.N.D. Institute and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Neuroscience, is a neuroscientist who studies the organization of memory systems in the brain. He has recently developed a nonhuman primate animal model for exploring the brain systems involved in social behavior. Amaral can discuss the importance of innovative and collaborative approaches to autism research and the overall research goals of the MIND Institute, which has funded 19 studies to date on autism, dyslexia, Tourette's syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger syndrome and normal brain development. One of the first M.I.N.D. Institute-funded grants, awarded to a team from the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program, may lead to the development of the first promising test to identify some newborns who may develop autism or mental retardation. Contact: David G. Amaral through the Department of Public Affairs at (916) 734-9040.

DIAGNOSING AUTISM -- Robin Hansen, M.D., is an associate professor of pediatrics and section chief of the Child Development and Child Protection Center at UC Davis. She heads a multidisciplinary clinic that assesses and diagnoses children with neurodevelopmental disorders, plans and initiates intervention strategies and works closely with parents and families of children with developmental and behavioral problems. Hansen can discuss how autism is diagnosed and treated. Contact Robin Hansen through the Department of Public Affairs at (916) 734-9040.

INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES OF AUTISM -- Pediatric epidemiologist Robert Byrd, M.D., is leading a study that aims to better understand the reasons for the increase in the number of reported cases of autism in the state of California since 1987. This study is a direct follow-up to the California Department of Developmental Services April 1999 report that showed the number of autistic children entering the state's 21 regional centers increased by 273 percent from 1987 to 1998, with a 16.3 percent increase during 1998 alone. Contact Robert Byrd through the Department of Public Affairs at (916) 734-9040.

A PARENT'S PERSPECTIVE -- Several parents of children with autism from the Sacramento area are willing to share their experiences with raising a child with autism.

• Rick Rollens is a co-founder of the M.I.N.D. Institute at UC Davis Health System, a Sacramento lobbyist and former secretary of the California Senate who is devoted to improving the lives of children with autism. He is a devoted father of 9-year-old Russell, who was diagnosed with autism at 20 months of age. Russell and his parents were featured in Newsweek magazine's cover story on autism last summer Contact by email Rick Rollens or at (916) 499-7707.
• Sarah and Chuck Gardner are the parents of 8-year old Chas, who is autistic. Chuck is a Sacramento area building contractor and co-founder of the UC Davis MIND Institute. Sarah is a television anchorwoman in Sacramento. Both discovered a fairly well-defined system for managing the behavior problems associated with autism, but they are looking for answers to the multiple medical problems that their son experiences. Contact Sarah Gardner at (916) 325-3301 and Chuck Gardner at (916) 646-6135.
• Rick Hayes is co-founder of the UC Davis MIND Institute and has served as president of the Families for Early Autism Treatment for the past four years. His son, Ryan, underwent three years of an intensive, home-based behavior modification program developed for autistic children. Contact by email Rick Hayes or at (916) 799-0573 or through his assistant Laurel Kipp at (916) 341-2291.

BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES TO EDUCATION -- Joseph Morrow, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and president of Applied Behavior Consultants, which operates a school in Sacramento for children with autism. He is a board-certified behavior analyst who can discuss educational approaches for special-needs children and his views on the role of vaccines and other environmental factors in the development of autism. Contact by email Joseph Morrow or at (916) 364-7800.

AUTISM ON THE RISE -- Ron Huff, Ph.D., is a psychologist and consultant to the California state Department of Developmental Services. He also is a co-founder of Families for Early Autism Treatment. Huff can discuss the rise in the number of reported cases of autism in California. Contact Ron Huff at (916) 654-1976. For more information about the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, visit the following Web site at http://mindinstitute.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

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