Peter Bell - Autism Speaks - Solving the Autism Puzzle Through Science

Although autism was first characterized 65 years ago, it took almost 50 years before mainstream scientists to take it seriously. In 1995, two national autism groups, Cure Autism Now (CAN) and the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), formed to radically change the way autism was viewed and researched. Over the following decade, a vibrant field of autism researchers developed thanks to a significant increase in the pool of funding from both the public and private sectors. In 2005, a new organization was founded, Autism Speaks, which brought even more awareness and financial resources to the autism fold. Autism Speaks have since merged with CAN and NAAR. This session will provide an update on the current field of autism research, how it is structured, where it is going and identify some of the promising leads. The speaker will provide an update on the Autism Speaks Science program as well as detail the current strategic planning process that is underway within the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

Peter Bell is executive vice president for programs and services at Autism Speaks. He oversees the foundation's government relations and family services activities and also serves as an advisor to the science division. Prior to his role at Autism Speaks, Bell was president and CEO of Cure Autism Now, which merged with Autism Speaks in February 2007. Peter joined Cure Autism Now in 2004 following a successful 12-year marketing career at McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. As president and CEO, Peter led Cure Autism Now through a tremendous growth period and brought the foundation's funding total to more than $39 million. In addition, Peter enhanced the foundation's research, education and outreach initiatives and expanded the foundation's treatment portfolio. Peter and his wife, Liz, reside in New Jersey with their three children. Their eldest son, Tyler, has autism.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• solving
• the
• autism
• puzzle
• through
• science
• research
• cure
• now
• speaks
• aspergers
• treatments

[garland531]

I wonder if he asked any autistics if they wanted to be cured.