2005 Annual Report

Research

Hope

Commitment

What Is Autism? Autism is a complex brain disorder that often impairs a person’s ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, and form relationships with others.

First identified more than half a century ago, autism is considered a spectrum disorderbecause symptoms and severity vary from person to person.

Few disorders are as devastating to children andtheir families as autism. While some children are mildly affected by autism, the majority willrequire lifelong supervision and care, and themost severely affected will never be able to telltheir parents that they love them.

The causes of autism are currently unknown, and there are no specific medical treatments or cures.

The National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) is the first organization in theUnited States dedicated to funding and accelerating biomedical research to unravelthe mysteries of autism and find a cure.

Founded in 1994 by parents of children with autism concerned about the limitedamount of funding available for autism research, NAAR was created in a spirit ofoptimism and excitement over the opportunities for accelerating the pace of autismresearch. This spirit continues to inspire and guide the organization today, enabledby recent advances in the neurosciences and other scientific fields. NAAR is a non-profit 501 © (3) organization.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the National Alliance for Autism Research is to aggressively fund global biomedical research accelerating the discoveryof the causes, prevention, effective treatments and cure for autismspectrum disorders and to educate the public on the critical roleresearch plays in achieving these goals.

WHY SUPPORT AUTISM RESEARCH?

The causes of autism are currently unknown, and there are no specific medicaltreatments or cures for autism. Physicians have no blood test or diagnostic scan todiagnose the disorder. The diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder is based solelyon the observation of the behaviors.

Most children and adults with autism have no functional language and requireintensive care and educational treatments that are often unaffordable and not cov-ered by medical insurance. Recent studies by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control &Prevention suggest that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders has significant-ly increased, from approximately four in 10,000 in the early 1990’s to as many asone in every 166 births today. Some studies place the prevalence even higher. Atthe current rate of diagnosis, autism is a serious global health issue with potentialimplications to health and education systems worldwide.

Biomedical research is our best hope for providing a better life for children withautism spectrum disorders and stemming autism’s increasing prevalence. Fundingand accelerating quality autism research is critical because research is the only waywe will ever understand what causes autism, develop methods for early diagnosisof autism, develop better and more targeted interventions and specific medicaltreatments for autism spectrum disorders and, someday, find a cure.

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R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

• Autism costs the nationover $90 billion per year—a figure expected to dou-ble in the next decade.

• Autism is the fastest-growing serious develop-mental disability in the U.S.

• Autism receives less than5% of the research fund-ing of many less prevalentchildhood diseases.

• Boys are four times morelikely than girls to haveautism.

Did you know...

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

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Dear Friends of Autism Research:

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the National Alliance for Autism Research, we are honored to presentNAAR’s annual report for the Fiscal Year 2005.

This will be NAAR’s last annual report. After eleven years of remarkable progress, accelerating research, andmillions of dollars raised in the fight against autism, we are pleased and excited to announce that as ofFebruary 1, 2006 we merged operations with Autism Speaks.

The new combined organization will be Autism Speaks, a logical outgrowth of what NAAR first pledged toaccomplish over a decade ago when its co-founders Karen and Eric London began NAAR with the hope to“start something that others could build upon.”

That time is now. NAAR has proven itself to be at the forefront of medical research in the quest to understandand begin to answer all of autism’s questions. In one short year of existence, Autism Speaks has demonstratedoutstanding ability to raise funds and awareness for our shared vision. We fully believe merging the two organizations will result in a more powerful research-driven and well-funded entity dedicated to finding thecauses, preventions, treatments, and ultimately cure for autism spectrum disorders.

It was NAAR’s many accomplishments at so many levels over the course of its eleven-year existence that madethe merger possible. Together, we committed nearly $30 million to fund more than 270 autism research projects, fellowships, and collaborative programs around the world. Not only did NAAR generate and overseemillions of dollars invested in autism research, but we have also played a key role in getting organizationssuch as the National Institutes for Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to dramaticallyincrease their funding for autism research.

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who contributed to the NAAR success story, including our foundersKaren and Eric London, past Board of Trustees members and Prisca Chen Marvin, who served as chair of theboard from 2001 thru 2005. We would also like to thank the tireless scientists and researchers, and all the volunteers, donors, and staffers that made NAAR the first and most successful international nonprofit organiza-tion in the country dedicated to funding and accelerating biomedical research for autism spectrum disorders.

This merger is far from an end. Instead, it’s an exciting new chapter that we are certain will bring us even closer to our ultimate destination: to find the answers to all the questions that surround autism. We’re eager to begin this new collaboration, and we look forward to continue working with all of you.

With our gratitude for your continued support, Sincerely,

Ann Boeker Gibbons Glenn R. TringaliAutism Speaks Board of Directors Executive Vice President of Autism Speaks(formerly, Chair, NAAR Board of Trustees) (formerly, NAAR Chief Executive Officer)

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The impact NAAR has made on autism research is nothing short of incredible. To date, NAAR has committed nearly $30 million to fund more than 270 autism research projects, fellowships and collaborative programs worldwide—more than any other non-governmental organization. This funding includes support for the AutismTissue Program and research partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NAAR continues to fund a wide variety of research, including studies focusing on genetics, early diagnosis and intervention, neurotoxicology, immunology, language and communication, molecular & cellular biology, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, epidemiological studies, and behavioral sciences.

More than any other organization, NAAR is the catalyst that has propelled the pace ofresearch forward and elevated the caliber of the science in autism research. NAAR’songoing funding of pilot studies, mentor-based fellowships and collaborative researchprograms have played a key role in the increased funding of autism research at the

National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

The research initially funded by NAAR has made a dramatic impact on the autism research landscape in theUnited States, Canada and Europe and has been leveraged into more than $65 million in autism research awardsby the National Institute of Health (NIH) and other funding sources.

What We Fund

Pilot studies are critical to attracting larger, multi-year grants from the NIH and other traditional medical researchfunding organizations. Such groups fund projects only when preliminary data has been compiled that suggestsadditional research may result in breaking new ground in a particular area of study.

Mentor-based fellowships provide the necessary resources to support and encourage the development of young scientists who benefit from the mentorship of prominent researchers. NAAR’s Mentor-Based Fellowship Program is designed to attract the best and brightest young investigators to the field of autism research. The inspiration forthis program is simple: All around the world, both parents and researchers have come to realize the difficulty infinding experts in autism in both clinical and research settings. There are currently not enough specialists inautism. NAAR believes its investment in autism research training will grow exponentially as many of its fellowslater assume teaching roles andjoin departments around thecountry and the world.

Collaborative programs and scien-tific consortiums unite researchersworking toward a common goal,whether it’s based in genetics,behavioral sciences or anotherfield of research. NAAR supportscollaborations and consortiums inautism research because autismspectrum disorders are very com-plex and continue to baffle thefinest minds in research. In fact,many experts agree that a collabo-rative approach to autism researchis the only way science will solvethe mysteries of these devastatingdisorders.

• 1 in 166 children is diagnosed with autism.

• 1 in 104 boys is on theautism spectrum.

• 67 children are diagnosed per day.

• A new case is diagnosedalmost every 20 minutes.

• More children will be diag-nosed with autism this yearthan with AIDS, diabetesand cancer combined.

Did you know...

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

PILOT STUDIESNAAR’s core mission has always been the funding ofgrants that enable researchers to conduct pilot studiesin autism research, which can then be leveraged intolarger multi-year grants from the National Institutes ofHealth (NIH) and other sources. While NAAR continu-ally expanded the scope of its research agenda, theongoing funding of pilot studies has remained centralto its mission. These important grants—up to $60,000for one year and up to $120,000 for two year studies,cover a wide range of research topics. In Fiscal Year2005, NAAR committed $4.6 million to fund 41 pilotstudies conducted in North America, Europe and theMiddle East.

Matthew Anderson, M.D., Ph.D.Beth Israel Medical Center / Harvard Medical SchoolModeling human neuroligin-3 Autism in miceTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Michal Assaf, M.D.Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center / IOL /Yale School of MedicineNeuronal correlates of implicit social interaction in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A functional MRI studyTwo-Year Award: $118,968

David Beversdorf, M.D.The Ohio State University Research FoundationPharmacological modulation of functional connectivity in Autism Spectrum DisorderTwo-Year Award: $113,740

John Constantino, M.D.Washington University School of MedicineReplication of quantitative linkage findings in a new sample of genotyped (but not yet phenotyped) Autism PedigreesOne-Year Award: $60,000

Joshua Corbin, Ph.D.Georgetown UniversityGenetic and cellular basis of amygdala developmentTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Richard Courtemanche, Ph.D.Concordia UniversityDynamic network activity in the cerebellum for expectancy: Normal and abnormal networks based on neurochemistryTwo-Year Award: $100,342

Kim Dalton, Ph.D.University of WisconsinMultisensory integration of visual and vocal emotional cues in Autism: A brain fMRI studyTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Guido Gerig, Ph.D.University of North Carolina Chapel HillQuantitative white matter analysis of early brain development in AutismTwo-Year Award: $119,780Research Partner: The Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation

Roy Grinker, Ph.D.The George Washington UniversityThe prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Korean school-aged childrenTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Jana Iverson, Ph.D.University of PittsburghEarly identification of autism: Developmental trajectories in communicative and motor skills in siblings of children with AutismTwo-Year Award: $119,940

Andrea Jackowski, Ph.D.Yale University - Child Study CenterBrain morphometry in newborns at risk for Autism: An MRI studyTwo-Year Award: $118,360

Daniel Levitin, Ph.D.McGill University, CanadaQuantifying the extent of emotional processing in Autism: Convergingevidence from music processing and central coherence theoryTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Ludise Malkova, Ph.D.Georgetown UniversitySocioemotional dysfunction and midbrain-amygdala circuitryTwo-Year Award: $119,900

Beth Malow, M.D., M.S.Vanderbilt UniversityDefining the physiological and behavioral components of insomnia in children with Autism Spectrum DisordersTwo-Year Award: $116,440

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The above graph illustrates what percentages of scientific disciplinesare represented in NAAR’s 2005 Research Awards and Fellowships.

8% Neuro-Imaging

28% Language& Communications

16% Genetics21% Cell/Molecular Biology

7% Animal Models

9% Anatomy

3% Diagnosis

3% Epidemiology

5% DevelopmentalBiology

In FY 2005, NAAR’s funding for pilot studies and fellowships represented awide range of research, including: behavioral sciences, language and commu-nication, neurochemistry, epidemiology, molecular biology, cellular biology,neuroimaging, neuroanatomy, developmental biology and genetics.

Peter McCaffery, Ph.D.UMMS/E. K. Shriver CenterDisruption of organization of the cerebral cortex by retinoic acidTwo-Year Award: $119,207

James Millonig, Ph.D.University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJGenetic and functional analysis of Engrailed2, a cerebellar patterning geneTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Sacha Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.Brandeis UniversityCortical circuit abnormalities in mouse models ofRett SyndromeTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Craig Newschaffer, Ph.D.Johns Hopkins School of Public HealthAutism, autoimmunity and the environmentTwo-Year Award: $113,822

Craig Newschaffer, Ph.D.Johns Hopkins School of Public HealthAutism risk and exposures/biomarkers measuredduring the pre-, peri-, and neonatal periods: A baby sibs pilot investigationTwo-Year Award: $119,953

Antonio Persico, M.D.Univ. Campus Bio-Medico, Lab of MolecularPsychiatry & NeurogeneticsAddressing the pathophysiology of endophenotypesin Autism: Megalencephaly, hyperserotoninemia,and pepitiduriaOne-Year Award: $60,000

Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.University of California San FranciscoChemotactic regulation of Cajal-Retzius cell migrationTwo-Year Award: $119,592

Douglas Portman, Ph.D.University of Rochester School of Medicineand DentistryGenetic control of sexual dimorphism in the nervous system: A nematode model for geneticmechanisms in AutismTwo-Year Award: $110,649

Vijaya Ramesh, Ph.D.Massachusetts General HospitalPam as a candidate gene for AutismTwo-Year Award: $120,0002005 Roland D. Ciaranello, M.D. Memorial Award in Basic Research

James Rand, Ph.D.Oklahoma Medical Research FoundationMolecular and cellular mechanisms of neuroligin-mediated synaptogenesisTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Payam Rezaie, Ph.D.Open University, United KingdomExamining alterations in cortical neuronal subpopulations and synaptic proteins in AutismTwo-Year Award: $119,900

Timothy Roberts, Ph.D.Children’s Hospital/University of TorontoElectrophysiological signatures: An intermediatephenotype for AutismTwo-Year Award: $149,473Named in honor of NAAR’s 2005 Scientific Service Award recipient, Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom

Diana Robins, Ph.D.Georgia State UniversityPerception of emotional cues from facial expressionand affective prosody using fMRITwo-Year Award: $119,779

Gary Rudnick, Ph.D.Yale University School of MedicineMutation associated with Asperger’s Syndrome -effect on amine transporter regulationTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Mirjana Savatic, M.D., Ph.DStony Brook UniversityNitric oxide and synaptic plasticity: Implications for AutismTwo-Year Award: $118,800

Christoph Schmitz, M.D.Maastricht University, NetherlandsCytoarchitectural alterations in the cerebral cortex in AutismTwo-Year Award: $120,000Research Partner: Autism Coalition forResearch and Education

Harvey Singer, M.D.Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineAutoimmune abnormalities in Autism: A family studyTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Latha Soorya, Ph.D.Mt. Sinai School of MedicineMediators of motor skills in adolescents & adults with ASDTwo-Year Award: $83,104

Flora Vaccarino, Ph.D.Yale UniversityMolecular mechanisms of cerebral cortical overgrowthTwo-Year Award: $119,276

Linda Van Aelst, Ph.D.Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryRole of the X-linked mental retardation proteinOligophrenin-1 in neuronal development and functionTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Robert Vogt, Ph.D.Newborn Screening Branch, Centers forDisease ControlImmune biomarkers in serum and newborn dried blood spotsTwo-Year Award: $118,800

George Wagner, Ph.D.Rutgers UniversityAnimal model of Autism using Engrailed2 knockout miceTwo-Year Award: $98,880

Sara Webb, Ph.D.University of WashingtonLinking cerebellar pathology to functioning in individuals with Autism: Implications for translational researchTwo-Year Award: $119,637

John Welsh, Ph.D.Oregon Health & Science UniversityElectrophysiological signatures: An intermediate phenotype for AutismTwo-Year Award: $150,000Named in honor of NAAR’s 2005 Scientific Service Award recipient,Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom

Patricia Whitaker-Azmitia, Ph.D.SUNY at Stony BrookSerotonin, oxytocin and social behaviorsTwo-Year Award: $120,000

Donald Wilson, Ph.D.University of OklahomaFunctional consequences of sensory gating deficitsTwo-Year Award: $117,135

Nurit Yirmiya, Ph.D.The Hebrew University of JerusalemThe development of siblings of children withAutism at age 7 yearsTwo-Year Award: $107,800

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• Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000.Funding - $310 million

• Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in20,000. Funding - $175 million

• Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000.Funding - $394 million

• Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500.Funding - $130 million

• Autism: Affects 1 in 166. Funding - $15 million

Incidents vs. Private Funding

National Institutes of HealthFunds Allocation

Total 2005 NIH budget: $29 billionOf this, only $100 million goes towardautism research. This represents only0.3% of total NIH funding.

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

MENTOR-BASED FELLOWSHIPS In Fiscal Year 2005, NAAR continued to expand itsMentor-Based Fellowship Program by investing $1.78million in mentor-based fellowships for both pre andpost doctoral candidates, including ongoing supportfor an autism research training program co-sponsoredby the Canadian Institutes of Health Research thatfunds two interdisciplinary autism training programsfor young investigators in Canada. This commitmentmarks the fourth consecutive year that NAAR hasinvested $1 million or more to fund fellowships. In 2005 NAAR funded 21 fellowships, the largest commitment to our fellowship program ever.

PRE-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS • University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Fondazione Santa Lucia,

IRCCS, RomeMentor: Claudia Bagni, Ph.D.Fellow: Caroline LacouxMolecular studies of the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

• University of Massachusetts, BostonMentor: Alice Carter, Ph.D.Fellow: Chantal (Jennifer) KuhnParental Autism-related cognitions and maternal synchrony

• University of WashingtonMentor: Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.Fellow: Raphael BernierRole of mirror neurons in the imitation deficits in Autism

• University of FloridaMentor: Darragh Devine, Ph.D.Fellow: Amber MuehlmannSelf-injurious behavior: Pharmacotherapy in an animal model

• McMaster UniversityMentor: Margaret Fahnestock, Ph.D.Fellow: Lisa LagrouMechanism of neurotransmitter dysregulation in Autism

• University of California, Davis School of MedicineMentor: Janine LaSalle, Ph.D.Fellow: Sailaja PeddadaInvestigation of novel MeCP2 target genes regulating neuronal maturation in Autism Spectrum Disorders

• University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMentor: Joseph Piven, M.D.Fellow: Matt MosconiSocial perception in young children with Autism

• Columbia UniversityMentor: Peter Scheiffele, Ph.D.Fellow: Ben ChehConsequences of neuroligin mutations on synapse formation and behavior

• University of PittsburghMentor: Mark Strauss, Ph.D.Fellow: Keiran RumpThe recognition of emotional expression by children and adults with Autism

• Boston UniversityMentor: Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D.Fellow: Kristen LindgrenBehavioral and brain imaging studies of verbal/non-verbal integrationin Autism

• Georgetown UniversityMentor: Chandan Vaidya, Ph.DFellow: Kelley Anne BarnesfMRI of implicit learning in childhood Autism

• Rutgers UniversityMentor: George Wagner, Ph.D.Fellow: Michele ChehAnimal model of Autism using Engrailed2 knockout mice

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POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS • University of Massachusetts, Boston

Mentor: Jane Adams, Ph.D.Fellow: Jennifer Gaven, Ph.D.Early markers of Autism and social-cognitive processing in infantsexposed to valproic acid during prenatal development

• University of OxfordMentor: Dorothy Bishop, D.Phil.Fellow: Andrew Whitehouse Ph.D.Electrophysiological and behavioral studies of phonological short-termmemory: a comparison with SLI

• University of British ColumbiaMentor: Pat Mirenda, Ph.D.Fellow: Karen Bopp, Ph.D.Relationships between prelinguistic communicative behaviors and earlyintervention outcomes in young children with Autism

• University of California, San FranciscoMentor: Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.Fellow: Jennifer Lynn Freese, Ph.D.The role of Frizzled 9 in hippocampal and cortical development

• University of California, San FranciscoMentor: John Rubenstein, M.D., Ph.D.Fellow: Ugo Borello, Ph.D.Role of the Fgf and Wnt genes in the development of the cerebral cortex

• Boston UniversityMentor: Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D.Fellow: Ruth Grossman, Ph.D.Functional connectivity of language areas in Autism and specific language impairment

• The Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaMentor: Rita Valentino, Ph.D.Fellow: Steven Leiser, Ph.D.Sensory response dysregulation

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, HHMIMentor: Christopher Walsh, M.D., Ph.D.Fellow: Seung-Yun Yoo, Ph.D.Identification of gene(s) involved in autosomal recessive Autism

• University of California, Los AngelesMentor: Stephanie White, Ph.D.Fellow: Julie Miller, Ph.D.Molecular targets for socially-learned vocalization

AUTISM TRAINING PROGRAMS NAAR is collaborating with the Canadian Institute ofNeurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction tocosponsor a pair of six-year interdisciplinary autismtraining programs, known as the “Training Programs inAutism Research.” In 2005, NAAR will again invest$200,000 as a co-sponsor of this unique program—the first of its kind in Canada to focus on Autism.

NAAR’S INTERNATIONAL IMPACTNo nation in the world is exempt from the far-reachingand often devastating effects of autism. Regardless ofwhere they live, parents hope for healthy children withopportunities for a promising future. Dedicated andlearned researchers in the United States and around theworld are committed to unraveling the deep mysteriesof autism. NAAR seeks to fund the best researchers andprojects and continues to open its doors to new studiesfrom other countries.

Since its inception, NAAR has funded research that willultimately benefit everyone affected by autism—nomatter where they live. With ongoing advances in technology and the ease of global communications,NAAR continues to expand, share information andfund international research. Wherever discoveriesare being made, that is where NAAR wants to be.

In 1998, NAAR began funding research outsideof the United States by providing agrant to Yves Lamarre of theMontreal Center for Research inthe Neurological Sciences at theUniversity of Montreal. The following year, NAAR awardedgrants to scientists in Russia and Italy, and the inclusion ofinternational researchers was offand running. In 2005, NAAR fundedprojects in the Netherlands, England, Italy,Israel and Canada, as well as the U.S. “Fundingresearch in other corners of the world is a naturalextension of our mission,” said NAAR chief executiveofficer Glenn Tringali. “Autism is a global concern, andNAAR recognizes this. We will continue our commit-ment to fund the most innovative and importantresearch, no matter where the research takes place.”

NAAR’s funding of pilot studies is a top priority, bothin the U.S. and abroad. “By funding pilot studies,NAAR allows researchers to get the start they need toleverage our organization’s funding into bigger govern-ment grants, thus leading to more expansive research,”Tringali added. “While there are vast differences in gov-ernment funding from country to country, it is NAAR’shope that the studies will encourage governments out-side the U.S. to support autism research.”

In many countries, there are no private organizationslike NAAR, though there are many distinguished scien-tists in need of funding for cutting-edge biomedicalresearch. NAAR remains committed to include theworldwide scientific community in our search for thefinest studies and programs.

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NAAR-FUNDED RESEARCHPUBLISHED IN MAJOR JOURNALSThe following is a partial listing of articles that have resulted from NAAR-funded research during FY 2005.(NAAR-funded researchers are listed in bold.)

• Baron-Cohen S, Knickmeyer RC and Belmonte M(2005) “Sex differences in the brain: Implications forexplaining autism” Science, 310: 819-822.

• Bartlett CW, Gharani N, Millonig JH, BrzustowiczLM (2005) “Three autism candidate genes: a synthe-sis of human genetic analysis with other disciplines”International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience,Vol. 2:21-234.

• Benayed R, Gharani N, Rossman I, Mancuso V, Lazar G, Kamdar S, Bruse SE, Tischfield S, Smoth BJ,Zimmerman, RA, DiCicco-Bloom E, Brzustowicz Land Millonig JH (2005) “Support for the homeoboxtranscription factor gene ENGRAILED2 as an AutismSpectrum Disorder Susceptibility Locus” AmericanJournal of Human Genetics, Vol. 77(5):851-68

• Blatt GJ (2005) “GABAergic cerebellar system inAutism: A neuropathological and developmental perspective” International Review of Neurobiology, Vol. 71: 167-178.

• Carter CS, (2005) “Biological perspectives on socialattachment and bonding, In: Attachment andBonding: A New Synthesis. Eds: Carter, CS, et al.,Cambridge, MA: MIT Press: 85-100.

• Casanova MF, de Zeeuw L, Switala A, Kreczmanski P,Korr H, Ulfig N, Heinsen H, Steinbusch HWM,Schmitz C (2005) “Lamination abnormalities in theneocortex of patients with schizophrenia”Psychological Research, Vol.133(1):1-12.

• Chubykin A, Xinran L, Comoletti D, Tsignelny I,Taylor P and Südhof T (2005) “Dissection of SynapseInduction by Neuroligins - Effect Of A NeuroliginMutation Associated With Autism” JBC Press, Vol. 280: 22365–22374.

• Dziobek I, Rogers K, Fleck S, Hassenstab J, Gold S,Wolf OT and Convit A (2005) “In search of mastermindreaders: Are psychics superior in reading thelanguage of the eyes?” Brain and Cognition, Vol.58(2):240-44.

• Flagg EJ, Cardy JEO, Roberts W and Roberts TPL(2005) “Language lateralization development in children with autism: Insights from the late fieldmagnetoencephalogram” Neuroscience Letters, 386: 82-87.

• Hashimoto T, Bergen S, Nguyen QL, Xu B,Monteggia L, Pierri J, Sun Z, Sampson A and Lewis D(2005), “Relationship of Brain-Derived NeurotrophicFactor and Its Receptor TrkB to Altered InhibitoryPrefrontal Circuitry in Schizophrenia” Journal ofNeuroscience, Vol. 25:372-383.

• Holmboe K and Johnson MH (2005) “Educatingexecutive attention” Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences of the USA, Vol. 102(41):14479-14480.

• Hugo T and Fecteau S (2005) “Making the case formirror neuron system involvement in language development: what about autism and blindness?”Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol. 28: 145-146.

• Hugo T, Halligan E, Kobayashi M, Fregni F, Tager-Flusberg H and Pascual-Leone, A (2005)“Impaired motor facilitation during action observa-tion in individuals with autism spectrum disorder”Current Biology, Vol.15: 84-85.

• Liu WS, Pappas GD and Carter CS (2005) “Oxytocin receptors are reduced in cortical regions inhaploinsufficient (+/-) mice” Neurological Research,Vol. 27:339-345.

• Murcia CL, Gulden F and Herrup K (2005) “A question of balance: a proposal for new mousemodels of autism” International Journal ofDevelopmental Neuroscience, Vol. 23:265-275.

• Nowinski CV, Minshew NJ, Luna B, Takarae Y andSweeney JA (2005) “Oculomotor studies of cerebel-lar function in autism” Psychiatry Research, Vol.137:11-19.

• Palmen SJ, van Engeland H, Hof PR and Schmitz C(2005) “Neuropathological findings in autism” Brain, Vol.127:2572-83

• Pickett JP and London E (2005) “The neuropatholo-gy of autism: a review”, Journal of Neuropathology andExperimental Neurology, Vol. 64 (11) 925-935.

• Welsh JP, Ahn ES and Placantonakis DG (2005) “Is autism due to brain desynchronization?”International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience,Vol. 23:253-263.

• Xie Z, Hugan RL and Penzes P (2005) “Activity-Dependent Dendritic Spine Structural Plasticity IsRegulated by Small GTPase Rap1 and Its Target AF-6”Neuron, Vol. 48, 605–618.

• Zwaigenbaum L, Bryson S, Rogers T, Roberts W,Brian J and Szatmari P (2005) “Behavioral manifes-tations of autism in the first year of life’ InternationalJournal of Developmental Neuroscience, Vol. 23:143–152.

NAAR • FIN

ANCIAL STATEM

ENTS • JUN

E 30, 2005 & 2004

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WALK FOR AUTISM RESEARCHWalk For Autism Research is unquestion-ably our organization’s most importantdevelopment initiative. As NAAR’s signa-ture fundraising and autism awarenessevents, the Walks not only generate vitalfunds to support autism research, theyalso create an outpouring of love andencouragement in cities across the country.

Already the nation’s largest grassrootsautism research walk program, NAAR’sWalk for Autism Research continued toexpand in 2005. Building on our interna-tional growth, we proudly added twointernational Walk sites to our roster—Toronto, Canada and Windsor, UnitedKingdom.

Besides those two new international events,NAAR also expanded its Walk programdomestically during 2005 and attracted a grand total ofmore than 75,000 walkers, who raised a record breaking$9.1 million to support autism research. Inaugural Walkevents in FY 2005 took place in nearly a dozen newlocations including: Portland, Oregon; Great Falls,Montana; Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas, Texas; Austin, Texas;West Abilene, Texas; Broward County, Florida; Baltimore,Maryland; Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia,Pennsylvania; and New York City, New York.

Walk For Autism Research provides families and friendsof individuals with autism an opportunity to takecharge and directly contribute to the search for thecauses, treatments, prevention, and cure for autismspectrum disorders. The Walks provide unified feelingsof joy, commitment and hope, and are excellent examples of what collaborative efforts on behalf of theautism community can accomplish.

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

National Alliance for Autism Research, Inc.

Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2005 and 2004

Independent Auditors’ Report

Board of TrusteesNational Alliance for Autism Research, Inc.Princeton, New Jersey

We have audited the accompanying statements of financialposition of the National Alliance for Autism Research, Inc. (“NAAR”)as of June 30, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated state-ments of activities, functional expenses and cash flows for the yearsthen ended. These financial statements are the responsibility ofNAAR’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion onthese financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standardsgenerally accepted in the United States of America. Those standardsrequire that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonableassurance about whether the financial statements are free of materialmisstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidencesupporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used andsignificant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating theoverall financial statement presentation. We believe that our auditsprovide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements enumerated abovepresent fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial posi-tion of the National Alliance for Autism Research, Inc. as of June 30,2005 and 2004, and the consolidated changes in its net assets and itscash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accountingprinciples generally accepted in the United States of America.

New York, New YorkJuly 29, 2005

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Consolidated Statements of Financial PositionJune 30,

2005 2004ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,806,252 $ 7,433,106Investments 472,837Pledges receivable, net 223,552 416,058Prepaid expenses and other receivables 15,711 35,738Security deposit 18,381 12,126Property and equipment, net 63,637 65,640

Total assets $ 10,127,533 $ 8,435,505

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities:

Research grants and fellowship awards payable $ 7,468,522 $ 5,749,432Accounts payable and accrued expenses 264,301 208,276Refundable advance 200,000

Total liabilities 7,932,823 5,957,708

Commitments (Notes D and E)

Net assets: Unrestricted 1,956,671 2,061,739Temporarily restricted 238,039 416,058

Total net assets 2,194,710 2,477,797

Total liabilities and net assets $ 10,127,533 $ 8,435,505

Consolidated Statements of Activities Year Ended June 30,

2005 2004

Temporarily TemporarilyUnrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total

Public support and revenue:Contributions $ 3,138,851 $ 623,300 $ 3,762,151 $ 2,131,977 $ 759,448 $ 2,891,425Walk F.A.R. for NAAR Walkathon 9,071,188 9,071,188 7,177,985 7,177,985Other special events (net of direct benefit to participants

of $42,198 in 2005 and $37,128 in 2004) 158,437 158,437 127,666 127,666Investment income 112,516 112,516 25,637 25,637Loss on disposal of property and equipment (1,993) (1,993)

Total public support and revenue before release of restrictions 12,478,999 623,300 13,102,299 9,463,265 759,448 10,222,713

Net assets released from restriction 801,319 (801,319) 0 984,019 (984,019) 0

Total public support and revenue 13,280,318 (178,019) 13,102,299 10,447,284 (224,571) 10,222,713

Expenses:Program services 10,114,619 10,114,619 7,342,069 7,342,069

Supporting services:Management and general 540,476 540,476 435,815 435,815Fund-raising 2,730,291 2,730,291 1,984,250 1,984,250

Total supporting services 3,270,767 3,270,767 2,420,065 2,420,065

Total expenses 13,385,386 13,385,386 9,762,134 9,762,134

Change in net assets (105,068) (178,019) 283,087 685,150 (224,571) 460,579Net assets - July 1 2,061,739 416,058 2,477,797 1,376,589 640,629 2,017,218

Net assets - June 30 $ 1,956,671 $ 238,039 $ 2,194,710 $ 2,061,739 $ 416,058 $ 2,477,797

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Consolidated Statement of Functional ExpensesYear Ended June 30, 2005(with summarized information for 2004)

Program Services Supporting Services

Autism Scientific Grants and Management 2005 2004Tissue Advisory Public Other and Total Total

Program Board Education Programs Total General Fund-Raising Total Expenses Expenses

Salaries $ 142,751 $ 98,436 $ 763,028 $1,004,215 $ 206,976 $ 874,442 $1,081,418 $2,085,633 $1,585,508Employee benefits and payroll taxes 30,123 32,569 165,551 228,243 51,698 194,817 246,515 474,758 299,630Research and fellowship awards 6,878,414 6,878,414 6,878,414 4,876,687Consulting and professional services 30,227 131,036 79,454 240,717 27,554 200 27,754 268,471 235,741Occupancy 91,503 91,503 39,103 145,491 184,594 276,097 219,413Printing 36,016 66,196 114,690 216,902 7,292 269,241 276,533 493,435 449,135Credit card commissions 35,160 35,160 1,159 70,266 71,425 106,585 18,398Accounting and auditing 14,032 14,032 11,199 17,984 29,183 43,215 26,447Travel and transportation 32,893 $ 20,437 29,838 145,305 228,473 9,786 98,444 108,230 336,703 214,457Meals and lodging 31,894 1,756 6,321 51,424 91,395 17,115 27,673 44,788 136,183 78,360Catering and entertainment 77,560 77,560 5,291 113,381 118,672 196,232 146,349Meetings, conferences and sponsorships 10,525 18,246 114,559 163,615 306,945 17,523 125,329 142,852 449,797 264,271Telephone 4,879 62 2,186 38,370 45,497 14,284 48,880 63,164 108,661 103,425Postage and shipping 10,525 46,903 86,495 143,971 19,209 155,604 174,813 318,784 248,094Equipment rental and maintenance 72,721 72,721 23,781 110,208 133,989 206,710 168,182Computer programming 27,350 11,923 41,775 81,048 9,031 27,865 36,896 117,944 123,750Supplies 9,913 63 1,476 43,372 54,824 14,805 71,957 86,762 141,586 109,745Site/filing fees 150 19,395 19,545 9,163 39,379 48,542 68,087 38,598Recognition 47 81 87,864 87,992 907 177,811 178,718 266,710 228,949Administrative services 23,814 48,679 72,493 5,045 84,560 89,605 162,098 137,599Research materials 4,118 383 7,104 11,605 11,605 7,804Recruiting 39,037 39,037 8,024 11,392 19,416 58,453 56,226Insurance 13,794 13,794 13,794 13,794 27,588 41,382 29,790Dues and subscriptions 1,269 1,269 5,774 2,576 8,350 9,619 7,235Depreciation 16,542 16,542 16,543 16,542 33,085 49,627 44,216Video Production 7,100 28,084 35,184 3,343 28,537 31,880 67,064 30,143Miscellaneous 447 5,091 5,538 2,077 3,918 5,995 11,533 13,982

$ 395,570 $ 40,564 $ 549,157 $9,129,328 $10,114,619 $ 540,476 $2,730,291 $3,270,767 $13,385,386 $9,762,134

Consolidated Statement of Functional ExpensesYear Ended June 30, 2004

Program Services Supporting Services

Autism Scientific Grants and Management 2004Tissue Advisory Public Other and Total

Program Board Education Programs Total General Fund-Raising Total Expenses

Salaries $ 135,315 $ 89,573 $ 547,362 $ 772,250 $ 215,494 $ 597,764 $ 813,258 $1,585,508Employee benefits and payroll taxes 24,985 23,111 136,017 184,113 30,609 84,908 115,517 299,630Research and fellowship awards 37,032 4,839,655 4,876,687 4,876,687Consulting and professional services 30,503 151,495 18,765 200,763 11,282 23,696 34,978 235,741Occupancy 69,755 69,755 39,308 110,350 149,658 219,413Printing 31,141 81,204 89,384 201,729 3,045 244,361 247,406 449,135Credit card commissions 5,638 5,638 1,180 11,580 12,760 18,398Accounting and auditing 8,581 8,581 6,460 11,406 17,866 26,447Travel and transportation 28,887 $ 15,395 26,701 80,839 151,822 5,573 57,062 62,635 214,457Meals and lodging 23,954 654 3,932 28,446 56,986 7,194 14,180 21,374 78,360Catering and entertainment 545 2,132 46,701 49,378 1,204 95,767 96,971 146,349Meetings, conferences and sponsorships 9,545 26,067 97,975 108,043 241,630 2,248 20,393 22,641 264,271Telephone 5,064 25 167 35,484 40,740 14,896 47,789 62,685 103,425Postage and shipping 7,198 311 39,637 58,983 106,129 13,997 127,968 141,965 248,094Equipment rental and maintenance 843 468 54,056 55,367 17,345 95,470 112,815 168,182Computer programming 20,098 10,815 42,160 73,073 12,335 38,342 50,677 123,750Supplies 14,795 719 1,823 27,800 45,137 11,651 52,957 64,608 109,745Site/filing fees 9,428 9,428 7,181 21,989 29,170 38,598Recognition 30 785 68,354 69,169 377 159,403 159,780 228,949Administrative services 23,025 34,825 57,850 4,183 75,566 79,749 137,599Research materials 6,970 333 335 7,638 166 166 7,804Recruiting 17 15,269 15,286 1,484 39,456 40,940 56,226Insurance 9,906 9,906 9,686 10,198 19,884 29,790Dues and subscriptions 2,545 647 24 216 3,432 3,597 206 3,803 7,235Depreciation 14,739 14,739 14,739 14,738 29,477 44,216Video production 9,065 9,065 218 20,860 21,078 30,143Miscellaneous 287 1,764 3,727 5,778 529 7,675 8,204 13,982

$ 402,779 $ 43,818 $ 531,939 $6,363,533 $7,342,069 $ 435,815 $1,984,250 $2,420,065 $9,762,134

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Year Ended June 30,

2005 2004Cash flows from operating activities:

Change in net assets $ (283,087) $ 460,579Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to net cash provided by

operating activities:Depreciation 46,627 44,216Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments (979) 1,630Loss on disposal of property and equipment 1,993Donated investments (69,347) (50,065)Changes in:

Pledges receivable 192,506 144,089Prepaid expenses and other receivables 20,027 (22,625)Security deposits (6,255) (5,576)Research grants and fellowship awards payable 1,719,090 1,635,287Accounts payable and accrued expenses 56,025 (56,837)Refundable advance 200,000

Net cash provided by operating activities 1,879,600 2,150,698

Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of investments (100,350) (475,000)Proceeds from sales of investments 643,513 240,065Purchases of property and equipment (49,617) (86,488)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 493,546 (321,423)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 2,373,146 1,829,275Cash and cash equivalents - July 1 7,433,106 5,603,831Cash and cash equivalents - June 30 $ 9,806,252 $ 7,433,106

Notes to Consolidated Financial StatementsJune 30, 2005 and 2004

NOTE A - THE CORPORATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

[1] The Corporation:

The National Alliance for Autism Research, Inc. (“NAAR”) is a not-for-profit entityfounded in 1994 to aggressively fund global biomedical research accelerating thediscovery of the causes, effective treatments, prevention and cure for autism spec-trum disorders and to educate the public on the critical role research plays inachieving these goals. NAAR organizes and runs numerous walks across the UnitedStates and Canada to raise funds for research. Canadian operations are incorporatedas a separate entity, which is controlled by NAAR, under Canadian law. The finan-cial statements of this separate entity have been included in the accompanyingfinancial statements with all inter-organizational transactions eliminated.

NAAR is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the InternalRevenue Code and from state income taxes under comparable laws. The Canadianentity, exempt from Canadian income taxes, is organized without share capitalunder the Canadian Corporations Act.

[2] Financial reporting:

(a) Basis of financial statements:

NAAR’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accrualbasis of accounting and conform to accounting principles generally accepted inthe United States of America as applicable to not-for-profit organizations.

(b) Functional allocation of expenses:

The costs of providing NAAR’s program and supporting services have been summa-rized on a functional basis in the accompanying statements of functional expensesand statements of activities. Accordingly, certain costs have been allocated amongthe program and supporting services in ratios determined by management.

(c) Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally acceptedaccounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptionsthat affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and revenues andexpenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(d) Cash equivalents:

For financial reporting purposes, management considers all highly liquid invest-ments, with maturities of three months or less when purchased, to be cashequivalents.

(e) Investments:

Investments in certificate of deposits are reported at their stated values. Donatedsecurities are initially recorded at their market values on the dates of gift. It ismanagement’s policy to sell donated securities upon receipt. At June 30, 2004,investments consisted of certificates of deposits with a fair value and cost of$472,837.

(f) Contributions and pledges receivable:

Contributions are recorded as revenue upon the receipt of cash or unconditionalpledges. Contributions are considered available for unrestricted use, unlessspecifically restricted by the donor.

Contributions are reported in either the temporarily or permanently restrictednet-asset classification if they are received with either donor stipulations or timeconsiderations as to their use. When a donor’s restriction is met, that is, when astipulated time-restriction ends or the purpose of the restriction is accomplished,temporarily restricted net assets are reclassified as unrestricted net assets andreported in the statement of activities as net assets released from restrictions.

(g) Refundable advances:

Assets received by NAAR in accordance with conditional promises to give areaccounted for as refundable advances on the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position until the underlying conditions have been metor waived.

(h) Property and equipment:

Property and equipment are stated at their costs at the dates of acquisition.Depreciation of property and equipment is provided using the straight-linemethod over estimated useful lives of three to five years. Leasehold improve-ments are amortized over the term of the lease or the useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.

(i) Research grants and fellowship awards:

Awards for research grants and fellowships are recorded as an expense and liabilitysubsequent to reviews by NAAR’s Scientific Advisory Board and final approvalsby the Board of Trustees. Grants and awards generally cover a period of one year,subject to renewal for an additional year after certain conditions are met.

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(j) Net assets:Net assets are classified and reported as follows:(i) Unrestricted:

Unrestricted net assets represent those resources for which there are norestrictions by donors as to their use.

(ii) Temporarily restricted:Temporarily restricted net assets represent those resources that are subject todonor-imposed stipulations that will be met either by the actions of NAARor the passage of time. Net assets released from restrictions represent the sat-isfaction of the restricted purposes.

(k) Donated goods and services:Those donated goods and services that meet the requirements for recognitionunder generally accepted accounting principles are recorded as both revenueand expense in the accompanying statements of activities, at amounts deter-mined by management to be fair values for such goods and services.

(l) Prior-year reclassifications:Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the currentyear’s presentation.

NOTE B - PLEDGES RECEIVABLE

At each fiscal year-end, pledges of future contributions were estimated to be collected as follows:

June 30,

2005 2004Gross amounts due in:

One year $ 114,486 $ 256,405One to five years 152,200 214,000

266,686 470,405Less allowance for doubtful pledges receivable 21,900 21,900

244,786 448,505Reduction of pledges due in excess of one year

to present value, using a discount rate of 5% 21,234 32,447

$ 223,552 $ 416,058

NOTE C - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

At each fiscal year-end, property and equipment consisted of the following:June 30,

2005 2004

Computer hardware and software $ 230,596 $ 183,967Office furniture and fixtures 12,547 12,547Leasehold Improvements 17,722 17,722

260,865 214,236Less accumulated depreciation (197,228) (148,596)

$ 63,637 $ 65,640

During fiscal-year 2005, NAAR disposed of equipment with a net book value of $1,993.

NOTE D - RESEARCH GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIP AWARDS PAYABLE

Obligations for research and fellowship grants and awards were $7,468,522 and$5,749,432 for fiscal-years ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The grantsand awards are usually payable within one year. In addition, research and fellowshipgrants and awards of approximately $3,718,895 are subject to discretionary renewal asdescribed in Note A[2](i), and are scheduled to be disbursed through June 30, 2007,pending the satisfactory progress of research and the availability of funds.

NOTE E - COMMITMENTS

During each fiscal year, NAAR entered into operating lease agreements for office space as follows:Year Ending June 30, 2005

Location Expiration Date

Toronto, Canada November 30, 2006Olivetti, Missouri October 31, 2006Seattle, Washington June 30, 2006

Year Ending June 30, 2004Location Expiration Date

Chicago, Illinois January 31, 2006Montgomery, Maryland September 30, 2005Watertown, Massachusetts February 28, 2006Cherry Hill, New Jersey November 30, 2005Dallas, Texas December 31, 2005

Prior Years

Location Expiration Date

Cos Cob, Connecticut December 31, 2005Cambridge, Massachusetts October 31, 2003Allison Park, Pennsylvania October 31, 2005Deerfield, Florida December 31, 2005Princeton, New Jersey February 28, 2007

The Cambridge, Massachusetts lease was not renewed.

In addition, NAAR rents office equipment through non-cancelable operating leasesthat expire on various dates through January 2009.

Future minimum rental payments for all operating leases are as follows:

Year EndingJune 30, Amount

2006 $ 278,6512007 131,3172008 29,3502009 1,194

$ 440,512

Rent expense was $276,097 and $219,413 for fiscal-years 2005 and 2004, respectively.

NOTE F - TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS

At each fiscal year-end, net assets were temporarily restricted as follows:

June 30,

2005 2004

Autism Tissue Program $ 14,487Time restricted 223,552 $ 416,058

$ 238,039 $ 416,058

During each fiscal year, net assets were released from restrictions as follows:

June 30,

2005 2004

Autism Tissue Program $ 221,813 $ 400,807Time restricted 579,506 583,212

$ 801,319 $ 984,019

NOTE G - CREDIT RISK

Financial instruments that potentially subject NAAR to concentrations of credit riskconsist principally of cash and cash-equivalent accounts which are deposited in finan-cial institutions and in amounts which, from time to time, may exceed federal insur-ance limits. However, management believes that NAAR does not face a significant riskof loss on these accounts that would result from a failure of these financial institutions.

NOTE H - ALLOCATION OF JOINT COSTS

NAAR incurred joint costs of $2,012,105 and $1,530,726 in fiscal-years 2005 and2004, respectively, for informational materials and activities that included fund-rais-ing appeals. Of those costs, $1,348,110 and $1,071,508 were allocated to fund-raisingexpense and $663,995 and $459,218 were allocated to program expense in fiscal-years2005 and 2004, respectively.

NOTE I - AFFILIATES

To expand NAAR’s presence internationally, NAAR entered into an affiliate relation-ship with NAAR U.K., a not-for-profit entity established during the year ended June30, 2005 under the United Kingdom’s Charity Commission. NAAR agreed to fundNAAR U.K.’s organizational start-up and initial walkathon amounting to $107,000.These costs are reflected in NAAR’s fiscal-year 2005 expenses. NAAR U.K. will becomeself-sufficient following its initial walk without any additional funding from NAAR.

NOTE J - RETIREMENT PLAN

NAAR’s employees participate in a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE”). Under this plan type, NAAR contributes 2% of eligible employees’ salaryinto Individual Retirement Arrangements (“IRAs”). Employer contributions to theSIMPLE IRA were $35,020 and $22,118 for fiscal-years 2005 and 2004, respectively.

NOTE K - SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Subsequent to year-end NAAR engaged in affiliation or possible merger discussionswith like not-for-profit organizations in an attempt to accelerate biomedical researchfor autism spectrum disorders.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS & PROGRAMSNAAR continued to actively support collaborative proj-ects and consortiums in 2005. The three projects listedbelow demonstrate NAAR’s commitment to fund pro-grams that unite autism researchers from all over theworld. These unique partnerships allow distinguishedscientists to pool and share valuable resources and datato further the goals of autism research.

AUTISM GENOME PROJECTIn 2005, NAAR committed $1.3 million toward theNAAR Autism Genome Project, an NIH partnershipthat is the largest research collaboration ever to focuson the genetics of the disorder. The NAAR AutismGenome Project will map the human genome in thesearch for autism susceptibility genes—the genesresponsible for the inherited risk for autism. Apublic/private research partnership, this collaborationincludes approximately 170 of the world’s leadinggenetic researchers from 50 academic and researchinstitutions that have pooled their DNA samples in acollaborative effort.

HIGH-RISK BABY SIBLINGS RESEARCH PROJECTTogether with NICHD, NAAR continues it’s support ofthe High Risk Baby Siblings Research Project, launchedlast year. Researchers participating in this collaborationare working to distinguish children that have differentdevelopmental trajectories so clinicians can apply themost appropriate standards to an early diagnostic eval-uation and, eventually, to developing specific interven-tions. This year, the consortium was expanded toinclude new members who bring unique expertise—such as child language development—that they willshare with other members of the collaboration.

AUTISM TISSUE PROGRAMOrgan and tissue donation programs play a critical rolein many research efforts seeking treatments and curesfor various diseases and disorders. Autism is no excep-tion, and the Autism Tissue Program makes brain tis-sue available to as many qualified scientists as possiblewho are focusing their energies on the study of autism.

NAAR committed $520,000 in Fiscal Year 2005 towardthe ongoing expansion of the Autism Tissue Program, aparent-led brain tissue donation project dedicated toautism research. The ATP was first established andfunded by NAAR in 1998. NAAR is proud to have hadAutism Coalition for Research and Education as aResearch Partner in 2005.

In FY 2005, 47 principal investigators around theworld were utilizing brain tissue from the ATP innumerous projects dedicated to solving the mysteriesof autism. Money allocated to the Autism TissueProgram is also funding the Autism Brain Atlas Project,the largest and most comprehensive analysis of thestructural and cellular changes in the brain that are atthe core of autism. This unprecedented internationalcollaboration will become an open resource forresearchers and help us better understand the brainabnormalities associated with autism.

NAAR CONTINUES TO EXPAND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPSIn addition to funding researchers throughout theworld, NAAR has expanded its international partner-ships and affiliations. Since October 2002, NAAR haspartnered with the prestigious Canadian Institutes ofHealth Research (CIHR). NAAR’s involvement has cre-ated more opportunities for biomedical research andopened doors to new fellowships and training pro-grams. NAAR has also co-sponsored conferences withCIHR that have provided new direction and focus forautism research.

As NAAR became more involved with autism researchin Canada, we recognized the need for a Canadianorganization and established NAAR Canada in 2004.NAAR Canada hosted its first Walk for Autism Researchin May of 2005 and raised over $250,000 ($315,000Canadian) in an incredibly successful event. NAAR isproud to partner with NAAR Canada in their mutualquest to expand funding for the finest research in theworld.

Across the Atlantic, NAAR also recognized the UnitedKingdom’s need for a similar organization dedicated tofunding additional research. To that end, NAAR UnitedKingdom was established in early 2005. Led by NAARBoard of Trustees member Dame Stephanie Shirley,NAAR U.K. is located in Greater London.

NAAR’s emphasis on autism research has elevatedawareness of autism throughout Britain and Europe,and the inaugural U.K. Walk for Autism Research inJuly garnered outstanding community involvement and excitement.

Both the Canadian and British NAAR affiliates repre-sent NAAR’s commitment to remain proactive in thequest to identify the causes of autism, find ways to pre-vent and effectively treat the disorder, and ultimatelyfind a cure. NAAR will continue to encourageresearchers throughout the world to focus on the workthat can help provide answers to the many questionssurrounding autism spectrum disorders.

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SOUTH KOREA RESEARCH PROJECTNAAR began funding its first research project in Asia in 2005. Headed up by Roy Grinker, Ph.D. of GeorgeWashington University, the research is the first epidemio-logical study of autistic spectrum disorders in SouthKorea. Dr. Grinker is joined by Young Shin Kim, Ph.D.from Hallym University of South Korea and EricFombonne, Ph.D. of the University of Montreal.

Over the next two years, the investigation will screen andassess children from the Korean city of Jinju to ascertainthe prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)among all the children born in the city between 1994 and1999. In addition, the study will also research social atti-tudes about autism and patterns of service utilizationamong South Korean children with autism.

The investigation will explore preliminary hypotheses sug-gesting that many South Korean children with autism arelikely to receive their first clinical evaluation by age two,earlier than those suggested in Western and Japanese stud-ies. The study will investigate factors leading to this earlyevaluation by exploring parental expectations for childdevelopment, availability of clinical services, service uti-lization patterns and unique phenotypic characteristics.“We are excited about the South Korean research project,”said Andy Shih, Ph.D., NAAR’s chief science officer. “Webelieve this work will set the stage for future internationalcollaborations and help NAAR continue to promote aglobal network for autism research.”

The South Korean research project is only one of severalinternational milestones achieved by NAAR in 2005.

PARENTS AS PARTNERSParents as Partners, an initiative launched in 2004 to con-nect families and parents of individuals with autism spec-trum disorders with investigators, was one of NAAR’s greatsuccess stories in 2005.

The program provides an opportunity for families directlyaffected by autism to take a more active role in accelerat-ing the pace of research by agreeing to take part in studiesaimed at diagnosing autism earlier, developing and evalu-ating effective treatments, and eventually, finding a cure.Parents as Partners currently has over forty research insti-tutions involved with the program and is helping torecruit families for over eighty studies. The program wasexpanded to include an initial study in the UnitedKingdom in 2005.

NAAR Board Member Ann Gibbons and her 17-year-oldson Phillip participated in one of the studies in 2005.Sponsored by Baltimore’s Kennedy Krieger Institute, thestudy investigated the way children with autism performcomputerized tasks compared to children without autism.“Once I learned the goals of the study and the nature ofthe tasks Phillip would be asked to do,” Gibbons said,“We were happy to participate in the project.”

Parents and families of children with autism haven’t beenthe only ones benefiting from the program. “Participatingin the Parents as Partners program has been a tremendoushelp to our research program,” said Dr. Linda Brzustowicz,a member of the Rutgers University Department ofGenetics. “The hardest part of a family-based researchstudy is finding families who are interested in participat-ing. Mailing study brochures to medical center patients orsupport group membership lists is expensive and typicallyresults in only a few percent of contacted families partici-pating in the study. The Parents as Partners program putsus in contact with a very interested and highly motivatedgroup of parents and lets us save our limited researchfunds for work on the science, not spending it on printers’fees and postage.”

One researcher noted that each time a Parents as Partnersfamily participates in a study, it saves nearly $2,000 inrecruitment fees, funds that can then be used in otherways to help find a cure for autism.

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2005 LONDON AWARD3RD ANNUAL AWARD HONORS 3 EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEERS

NAAR volunteers and staff gathered for the 2005Annual Leadership Conference in WashingtonD.C. to discuss and help shape the future of theorganization. Among the many highlights fromthe Annual Awards Dinner was the presentationof the Third Annual London Award. As NAAR co-founder, Karen London said it best thatevening. “There are so many extraordinary peopleaffiliated with this organization who give so muchof their time, talent and heart, that the selectionof the London Award recipient is tremendouslydifficult.” For that reason, three winners receivedthe honor. Congratulations to Laura Kuntz, MarcyWenning and Lennie Gladstone.

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

Lennie Gladstone has been a leader ofthe National Capital Area Walk F.A.R.for NAAR since its inception in 2001. Asco-chair, she helped bring together theautism communities from Maryland,the District of Columbia and Virginia.The area’s inaugural walk took placetwo weeks after the September 11thtragedy, under incredibly difficult cir-cumstances. Miraculously, more than5,000 walkers raised $645,000 forautism research that day. Lennie hascontinued to serve as the SponsorshipChair of the National Capital Walk andhelped raise over $750,000 from thebusiness community.

Marcy Wenning started volunteering for NAAR at itsinaugural New England area walk in 2001. In 2003,when New England spun off three walks, she co-chaired the Greater Boston Walk, while mentoringnew chairpersons. She is a passionate member ofNAAR’s speaker’s bureau. She also initiated a radioonline auction for NAAR, chairs the chapter’s publicity committee and is an ad hoc member of theNational Board’s PR committee. She peforms all theseduties in addition to leading her family Walk team,“Cody’s Clan” to raise over $243,000.

Laura Kuntz, a partner in one of NewJersey’s top law firms, is the mother oftwo children, including a son withautism. She served as Chair for the inau-gural Walk F.A.R. for NAAR in New Jerseyin 2000 and again in 2001. She then tooka year off, but couldn’t stay away. In 2003,she founded and chaired a new Walk inNorth/Central New Jersey. Overall, Laurahas chaired four Walk F.A.R. for NAARevents, helping to raise more than $1.3million for autism research, includingmore than $125,000 through her ownteam, Ross’s Rangers.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRSThrough the efforts of NAAR and theautism community, outstandingprogress was made at the federallevel during Fiscal Year 2005. Someof the highlights in our continuingdrive to make our government moreaware of the need for increasedautism research funding include:

• The inclusion of an “autism title”to the Children’s Health Act billwhich is now known as the“Combating Autism Act.”Numerous additions to the legislation included highlightingthe importance of the NAAR/private-public funded partnershipsin the Baby Sibs project and theAutism Genome Project.

• For the first time in theDepartment of Defense’s history,the Fiscal 2005 Department ofDefense Appropriations Act included a provision making autism research eligible for funding underDOD’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

• The Conference Report on the FY 2005 Labor, Health,and Human Services Appropriations bill included a$1,758,000 increase for the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention’s autism activities, including its surveil-lance, research, and awareness campaign. That translatesinto a total of $14,873,000 for the CDC’s autism activi-ties, $12,363,000 for surveillance, and $2,501,000 forawareness campaigns. In addition, the NationalInstitutes for Health language in the bill was changed toensure that congressional attention would be given tomany of our research priorities included in the autismresearch-matrix.

• The 2005 NAAR Washington Workshop was a multi-dayconference that brought autism activists to Capitol Hillwhere they met with Congressional staffers and variousmembers of Congress. The 70 NAAR members whoattended the event represented 17 states, and they visiteda total of 34 Senate and 53 House offices.

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NAAR Advances “Combating Autism Act” Legislation with Congressional LeadersThe Combating Autism Act of 2005 press conference was held during NAAR’s Annual Hill Day in April.Pictured left to right: Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Pittsburgh volunteer Patti McCloud, NAARChairwoman Prisca Chen Marvin and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT).

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LEAVING A LASTING IMPRINT Since its establishment, NAAR has fostered relationshipswith celebrities and business leaders to garner supportfor autism research and has a long tradition of workingwith some of the leading names in sports, music andentertainment to advance the search for answers andfind a cure.

T.J. Maxx continued to make its mark in 2005 as afriend in the fight against autism. In just a three weekspan from the end of March to April 17, the group’salready successful fund-raising “Footprints” campaignraised the remarkable sum of $789,000, most of it onedollar at a time in nearly 800 stores across the coun-try. All of the proceeds were donated to NAAR.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of our cus-tomers and our associates this year. Funding researchfor autism is a critical need as the prevalence ofautism continues to increase in this country andaround the world,” said Ted English, President andCEO of The TJX Companies, Inc.

In 2004, the inaugural “Footprints” campaign(which encouraged customers to purchase NAAR“footprints” at check-out for $1 each) raised nearly$580,000. So in two short years, the highly visibleand very effective “Footprints” funds campaign hasraised more than $1.3 million for autism research.

NAAR is extremely grateful for T.J. Maxx’s inspiredcommitment to combat autism one step, or one “footprint” at a time.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOPThe international Build-A-Bear Workshop chain observedNational Autism Awareness Month in April 2005 in a creative and inspired way that also advanced autismresearch. A portion of proceeds from the April sales of thecompany’s “Nikki’s Bear II” was donated to NAAR, andthe month-long promotion, which will also be repeated in2006, raised $40,000.

Nikki Giampolo was a 14-year-old who died of cancer in2002, and her story inspired Build-A-Bear Workshops tocreate the “Nikki Bear II” to help fund children’s healthand wellness programs.

NAAR is proud to be a recipient of this generosity and, inturn, to support Build-A-Bear Workshop’s charitableefforts.

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NAAR Board of TrusteesThe NAAR Board of Trusteesincludes a wide range of physicians,attorneys and business leaders composed mostly of parents and family members of people withautism. The Board guides long-termplanning strategies, organizationaloversight and development.

Prisca Chen Marvin, Esq.Chair

Ann Boeker GibbonsSecretary; Vice Chair, GovernmentRelations Committee

Mark J. Krinsky, CPATreasurer

Michael Alessandri, Ph.D.Vice Chair, Scientific AffairsCommittee

Deborah Hilibrand, MBAVice Chair, Major Gifts Committee

Marjorie Woolf PascettaVice Chair, Development Committee

Larry CancroVice Chair, Public RelationsCommittee

Patricia Menendez Cambo, Esq.

Andy Cerise

Richard Cohen

Alexsis de Raadt-St. James

Gary K. Duberstein, Esq.

C.T. Gordon, III, M.D.

W. Donald Gough

Adrian Jones

Eric London, M.D.

Karen Margulis London, Esq.

Anahita Naficy Lovelace, Ph.D.

The Hon. Sally J. Pederson

Barri Rind

Bernard M. Rosof, M.D.

Daniel F. Ryan, Jr.

Martin A. Schwartzman, CFE, CIE, CPCU

Dame Stephanie Shirley

Honorary BoardThe National Alliance for AutismResearch is honored to have a widearray of influential supportersthroughout the country, includingactors, sports figures, musicians,politicians, authors and artists,including many who have a family member with autism. These extraordinary individuals have contributed their time, effortand influence to further NAAR’smission by serving as HonoraryBoard Members.

Lisa & Will Clark

Audrey Flack

Laurie & Doug Flutie

Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

Lisa & Dustin Hoffman

Arlene & Joe Mantegna

Claire & Dan Marino

Branford Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis

Sue and Scott Mellanby

Nancy Lurie Marks

Elizabeth & Aidan Quinn

The Honorable Barbara Roberts

Lynn & Bret Saberhagen

Oliver Sacks, M.D.

Melissa D. Begg, Ph.D., Sc.D.Columbia University

Verne S. Caviness, Jr., M.D., D. Phil.

Harvard Medical School

Joseph T. Coyle, M.D.Harvard Medical School

Thomas Curran, Ph.D.St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Stephen R. Dager, M.D. University of Washington School of Medicine

Mony J. de Leon, Ed. D.New York University Medical Center

Martha Bridge Denckla, M.D.Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, M.D.University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood JohnsonMedical School

Salvatore J. Enna, Ph.D.University of Kansas School of Medicine

Lynn W. Enquist, Ph.D.Princeton University

James F. Gusella, Ph.D.Harvard Medical School

Susan L. Hyman, M.D.University of Rochester School of Medicine

Barry Jacobs, Ph.D.Princeton University

Kathleen A. Mahon, Ph.D.Baylor College of Medicine

Eric J. Nestler, M.D., Ph.D.University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Richard S. Nowakowski, Ph.D.University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood JohnsonMedical School

Pasko Rakic, M.D., Sc.D.Yale University School of Medicine

Robert Schultz, Ph.D.Yale University Child Study Center

James T. Winslow, Ph.D.National Institute of Mental Health

Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, M.D.Centers for Disease Control andPrevention

Listings on this page reflect the period of July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005

Scientific Advisory BoardNAAR’s esteemed Scientific Advisory Board, the first of its kind ever to be assembled to guide a research agenda for autism, provides ongoing expert guidance in developing an aggressive and far-reaching program of research for autism spectrum disorders and convenes yearly to review and recommendgrant applications.

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Contact Us:

Autism SpeaksMain Offices

New York Office2 Park AvenueNew York, NY 10016Phone: (212) 252-8584Fax: (212) 252-8676

Princeton, NJ Office99 Wall Street, Research ParkPrinceton, NJ 08540Phone: (609) 430-9160Toll Free: (888) 777-6227Fax #1: (609) 430-9163 (General Administration)Fax #2: (609) 430-9505 (Walk Department)

Port Chester Office181 Westchester AvenuePort Chester, NY 10573Phone: (914) 935-1462Fax: (914) 935-1466

Mark Roithmayr, PresidentGlenn R. Tringali, Executive Vice PresidentAlison Singer, Senior Vice PresidentTory Brucato, Director Special EventsLisa Gallipoli, MPA, National Walk DirectorTom Hetzel, Controller/Chief Financial OfficerAndy Shih, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer

Field Offices

Chicago Office501 N. Wells StreetSuite ECChicago, IL 60610-4231(312) 832-9900FAX: (312) 832-1990

Greater Delaware Valley Chapter496 N. Kings HighwaySuite 123Cherry Hill, NJ 08034(856) 755-0330FAX: (856) 755-9056

Long Island Chapter50 Carnation AvenueBuilding 6Floral Park, NY 11001(516) 327-4646FAX: (526) 327-8206

National Capital Area Office9401 Key West AvenueRockville, MD 20850(301) 519-0770FAX: (301) 519-0025

New England Chapter85 School StreetSuite 100Watertown, MA 02472(617) 924-3300(888) 627-6227FAX: (617) 924-3311

Pacific Northwest Office159 Western Ave. WSuite 484Seattle, WA 98119(206) 464-5182FAX: (206) 622-2970

Pittsburgh Office4068 Mt. Royal Blvd.Suite 105Allison Park, PA 15101(412) 487-6851FAX: (412) 487-6918

Saint Louis Office9378 Olive BoulevardSuite 206Olivette, MO 63132(866) 500-6227FAX: (314) 989-1022

South Florida Regional Office2151 W. Hillsboro BoulevardSuite 303Deerfield Beach, FL 33442(800) 610-6227FAX: (954) 421-1054

Tampa/Orlando OfficeThe Austin Center1111 N. Westshore BoulevardSuite 214Tampa, FL 33607(813) 282-9474FAX: (813) 282-1484

Texas Regional Office6380 LBJ FreewaySuite 285Dallas, TX 75240(972) 960-6228FAX: (972) 960-6228

Westchester/Fairfield Office132 Putnam AvenueSuite CCos Cob, CT 06807(203) 552-8980(FAX): (203) 552-8982

International Offices

Canada8 King Street EastSuite 1104Toronto, ON M5C 1B5(888) 362-6227(FAX): (416) 362-6228

United KingdomGreater London OfficeNorth Lea House66 Northfield EndHenley-on-ThamesOxfordshire RG9 2BE011-44-1491-579004(FAX) 011-44-574995

R E S E A R C H H O P E C O M M I T M E N T

Autism Speaks Board of Directors

Andrew ConradEmanuel DiCicco-Bloom, M.D.Philip H. Geier, Jr.*Ann Boeker GibbonsGary W. Goldstein, M.D.*Adrian M. JonesMel Karmazin*Brian Kelly*Eric London, M.D.*Bernie Marcus*Gary MayersonKevin Murray*Mark RoithmayrAlison SingerLaura SlatkinLilly TartikoffBob Wright*Suzanne Wright*

*Executive Committee members

Facts About Autism Spectrum Disorders• Autism affects people of all racial, ethnic and

socioeconomic backgrounds and occurs in asmany as one in every 166 births. Some studiesplace the prevalence even higher.

• Recent prevalence studies suggest that more thanone million Americans are living with an autismspectrum disorder, such as Asperger Syndrome,Autistic Disorder, Childhood DisintegrativeDisorder (CDD), Pervasive DevelopmentalDisorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)or Rett Syndrome.

• Autism spectrum disorders are the second mostcommon developmental disability, after mentalretardation.

• There are no biological markers, specific medicaltreatments or cure for autism. Currently, the diagnosis of autism is based solely on the observation of behavior.

• Most people with autism spectrum disordersrequire lifelong supervision and care—and themost severely affected may never be able tospeak.

• Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

99 Wall Street, Research ParkPrinceton, NJ 08540toll-free 1-888-777-6227609-430-9160FAX 609-430-9163www.autismspeaks.org

This publication represents NAAR activities through Fiscal Year 2005 (July 1, 2004 - June, 30, 2005).