Is Autism Speaks the only major funding organization that is exploring a link between autism and vaccines?
No. In fact, we are currently collaborating with the National Institutes of Health on research projects that include vaccines as one of many potential environmental risk factors that may contribute to increased risk for autism. Both the CDC and the NIH are actively involved in funding research on the possible link between vaccines and autism. To learn more about the perspective of the Director of NICHD, Dr. Duane Alexander, on research exploring the role of vaccine and other environmental factors in autism, click here. The difference is that these federal agencies are in a better position to conduct studies on very large samples. Our funding tends to be focused on highly innovative smaller studies that can open up new avenues of research. Because private foundations have more flexibility in funding highly innovative research that can lead to breakthroughs, we feel it is important to remain open-minded and nimble in our approach to funding science. How does Autism Speaks make funding de
