"Scientists moved a step closer to understanding the complex causes of autism this week. Although all of the headlines went to US President Donald Trump's poorly evidenced statements that the painkiller acetaminophen is linked to the neurodevelopmental condition, his White House autism event brought welcome - and largely overlooked - news to scientists: the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is investing US$50 million in an unusual autism-research effort."
"Researchers, although pleased by the aims of the funded work and the rigour of the methods, have some concerns about the project. Several ADSI-funding recipients say that they are expected to complete their projects relatively quickly - within three years instead of the usual five - and some say that they are alert to political interference with their results. Trump prompted fierce pushback from scientists with his statements about acetaminophen earlier this week, given the lack of convincing evidence to support a link with autism."
The US National Institutes of Health is committing US$50 million to the Autism Data Science Initiative, funding 13 research groups to study how genetic and environmental factors interact in autism. Funded projects include studies of environmental exposures during pregnancy and experiments on brain cells, with additional support for replication to ensure robustness. Recipients report accelerated timelines of about three years rather than the usual five. Some researchers express concern about potential political interference and urge caution following public statements linking acetaminophen to autism that lack convincing evidence. Grant recipients emphasize scientific rigour and replication.
Read at Nature
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