PERATA RECOGNIZES M.I.N.D. INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS, COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES

October 17, 2006

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — California Senator Don Perata, on behalf of the California Legislature, has honored the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute with a resolution noting its scientific contributions and commitment to families in finding answers as quickly as possible to the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders.

“The institute in just eight years has assembled a first-rate research team that has made remarkable progress in the science of autism and fragile X syndrome, and it is a great pleasure to recognize those outcomes,” said Perata (D-East Bay), who is president pro tempore of the California Senate. “I am united with them in our commitment to improving the quality of life for our state's most vulnerable citizens, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders.”

Highlighted in the resolution is that the M.I.N.D. Institute was founded by parents. Five families with boys who have autism were instrumental in getting funding from the California Legislature and commitment from UC Davis for a world-class center devoted to neurodevelopmental disorders. That parent inspiration has led to an aggressive research program that is defining key differences in the immune systems of children with autism; biological and behavioral markers of autism that can lead to earlier detection and targeted interventions; interactions among genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures that can trigger the onset of autism; the multiple ways that the fragile X mutation affects families — from young children to grandparents — along with medical standards for screening patients for fragile X syndrome and related conditions; and new treatments that can reduce or eliminate challenges for children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

“We're very honored for this recognition for our efforts,” said Robert Hendren, executive director of the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. “The support of the legislature was instrumental to the launch of the institute and continues to be a valued relationship as we work together to find the causes and cures for autism and other disorders that limit a child's lifelong potential. We've come a long way, but there is still a long way to go.”

Autism is the nation's fastest-growing neurodevelopmental disorder and currently affects 1 in 166 children. An estimated 1 in 129 women carry the fragile X permutation; fragile X syndrome is the leading cause of inherited mental impairment.

The UC Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute brings together parents, scientists, clinicians and educators for research into the causes, preventions and treatments of autism, fragile X syndrome, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities and other neurodevelopmental disorders. For further information, visit www.mindinstitute.org. Click here to see a PDF of the resolution.