Fombonne to speak on epidemiological studies of environmental factors hypothesized to increase risk for autism

December 7, 2005

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — As part of its Distinguished Lecture Series, the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute will host Eric Fombonne, professor of psychiatry and head of the division of child psychiatry at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The lecture takes place on Wednesday, December 14, at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute,2825 50th St., Sacramento. Fombonne will lecture at two times: a technical presentation at 4 p.m. and a community-interest lecture at 6 p.m.

During his technical presentation at 4 p.m., Fombonne will discuss studies that address the hypothesis that vaccines or vaccine stabilizers have led to increases in autism prevalence, as well as the various issues that have influenced this debate. During his 6 p.m. community-interest lecture, Fombonne will review recent epidemiological findings that have not demonstrated an association between specific risk factors and an increased risk for autism and discuss these results in the context of parental concerns about the causes and treatment of autism. Both presentations are free and open to the public; no reservations are needed.

Fombonne is internationally recognized for his epidemiological investigations of child psychiatric disorders -- with particular focus on autism -- and associated risk factors. He directs the department of psychiatry at the Montreal Children's Hospital and heads a research program that evaluates environmental risk factors, immunological factors and genes in autism, along with an autism research-training program. Fombonne has over 130 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and 25 book chapters. He is a member of the scientific, advisory and membership committees of several professional organizations, a permanent member of an NIMH study section and a member of the special NIH advisory board for autism research programs. His many honors include honorary membership in the German Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Fragile X Society, United Kingdom, and appointment as fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and as the Canada Research Chair in Child Psychiatry.

Fombonne is the third of nine distinguished lecturers in the M.I.N.D. Institute's series. Upcoming speakers in 2006 are: Margaret Bauman, Boston University and Massachusetts General Hospital (Jan. 11); Uta Frith, University College London (Feb. 8); Sally and Bennett Shaywitz, Yale University (Mar. 8, visit co-sponsored by the UC Davis School of Education); Jan Buitelaar, University Medical Center St. Radboud, Netherlands (Apr. 12); Charles Nelson, Harvard University (May 10); and Gary Mesibov, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (June 14).

The Distinguished Lecturer Series is funded in part by the SBC Foundation. For more information about this and future lectures, visit the M.I.N.D. Institute's Web site at http://www.mindinstitute.org/ or call (916) 703-0280.

The UC Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research into the causes and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, fragile X syndrome and learning disabilities.