ASF Expands Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Joseph Buxbaum and Dr. Bryan King join board
(September 27, 2011—New York, NY)–The Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and funding autism research, today announced that two additional autism scientists had joined its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The new members are Dr. Joseph Buxbaum, Director of the Seaver Autism Center and Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Dr. Bryan King, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and a Research Affiliate at the Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD).
ASF’s SAB is responsible for guiding the organization’s scientific direction. SAB members also serve on the review committee for ASF’s research grants. Since its founding two years ago, ASF has distributed almost $500,000 in autism research grants and fellowships.
“Dr. Buxbaum and Dr. King are highly respected members of the autism research community and have been active in our grant review process and other science activities,” said Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation. “We are thrilled to formally welcome them as members of our Scientific Advisory Board.”
Current ASF Scientific Advisory Board members are: Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom (UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School); Dr. Ami Klin (Emory University); Dr. Sharon Humiston (University of Rochester); Dr. Harold Koplewicz (The Child Mind Institute); Dr. Eric London (New York Institute for Basic Research); Dr. Catherine Lord (New York Institute for Brain Development); Dr. David Mandell (University of Pennsylvania/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) and Dr. Matthew State (Yale Medical School).
Joseph Buxbaum, PhD is a molecular neuroscientist and Director of the Seaver Autism Center and Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Buxbaum heads the Laboratory of Molecular Neuropsychiatry, which has identified genes in autism and translated them into animal models so that therapeutic approaches can be evaluated. In this context, Dr. Buxbaum and his group make use of multiple experimental systems to ultimately develop and evaluate novel therapeutics in autism spectrum conditions. Dr. Buxbaum is a lead investigator in the Autism Genome Project and is a part of the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium. Most recently, six lead investigators, including Dr. Buxbaum, initiated a large-scale next-generation sequencing project to identify additional genetic causes of autism. In addition, Dr. Buxbaum, together with fellow Autism Science Foundation SAB member Dr Matthew State, recently created the Autism Sequencing Consortium with 15 member groups to date dedicated to sharing and jointly analyzing large-scale next-generation sequencing data in autism. Dr. Buxbaum has received numerous awards for his research including recognition from the New York University Child Study Center (2004), from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2005 and 2010), and from the Eden Institute Foundation for his “commitment and dedication to improving the quality of life in individuals with autism” (2008).
Bryan King, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Seattle Children’s Autism Center. Dr. King studies psychopathology in persons with developmental disabilities, and potential treatments for persons with these conditions. His primary focus is repetitive self-injurious behavior (SIB). He has explored animal models of self-biting with the aim of better understanding the causes of SIB in persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Dr. King is currently involved in studies of the safety and effectiveness of medications to treat behavioral disturbances in persons with ASD. He is also interested in exploring better ways to collect data and to predict treatment response in clinical trials involving this population.
The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c) (3) public charity. Its mission is to support autism research by providing funding to scientists and organizations conducting autism research. ASF also provides information about autism to the general public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism. To learn more about the Autism Science Foundation or to make a donation visit www.autismsciencefoundation.org.
–30–
Contact Info:
Dawn Crawford
Autism Science Foundation
dcrawford@autismsciencefoundation.org