Autism: Subgroups susceptible to repeat exposure to toxins, antigens and live viruses in vaccines CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

2)  There is a growing public crisis of confidence in the U.S. vaccine program.  According to a recent a study of the American Academy of Pediatrics more than half of parents responding to a national survey expressed concern over serious adverse effects of vaccines, and one in four believe some vaccines cause autism.  Since vaccines are studied individually for safety when approved, there has been no research that addresses cumulative and concurrent exposure to multiple vaccines the first 18 months of life.  The current early infant immunization schedule recommends 28 vaccines for 14 diseases during the first 18 months of life. Immunizations are known to contain metals and chemicals that have been recognized an having  toxic properties such as aluminum, ethyl mercury, formaldehyde, phenol and glutamate which are co-administered  with live virus vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and rotavirus.  The NIEHS could provide valuable scientific information in this arena through the utilization of animal models, preferably infant primate, to investigate toxicological and neurodevelopmental impacts of the combined early childhood immunization schedule.  Such research is supported by scientific reports of children developing adverse events such as seizures, mitochondrial dysfunction, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and developmental regression after multiple vaccine exposure. Environment is typically defined as any factor non-genetic in nature and includes pharmaceuticals.

Autism and High Throughput Screening  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

3)   Due to advances in technology it is now possible to use computational toxicology methodology to conduct virtual screening for gene-environment interactions as they relate to specific high profile diseases, such as autism.  This is accomplished by using our current knowledge of gene pathways and protein structures and combining those with high priority chemical toxicants using ligand receptor docking technology to identify high scoring gene variant and chemical combination.  Such targeted investigations will greatly reduce the cost associated with genome-wide association studies and also help to identify environmental insults,  which offers the opportunity for prevention and treatment.    

Autism and the Microbiome  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

4)  Research shows that individuals with autism have microbiomes that are different than siblings and age/sex matched controls both in numbers and types of good and bad bacteria. NIEHS should determine how disturbances in gut microbiota are affecting autistic individuals and if replenishing the microbiome can be an effective treatment for autism's comorbid immune and gastrointestinal conditions.    

Toxic Insults to Mothers and Infants CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

5)  Identify toxic environmental exposures that are avoidable and study the ways to reduce toxic exposures that are most likely to improve maternal and infant health.    

Physician Training Regarding Toxic Environmental Exposures  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

6)  Set up a training webinar series for pediatricians and OB/Gyns to better understand toxic environmental exposures, to be able to advise patients on how to avoid them and to learn how to treat them when they occur.    

Translational Research: Letting Patients Be the Guide  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

7)  Increase focus on translational research: start with studying patients' symptoms, research possible mechanisms for those symptoms, study possible causes and potential treatments and do clinical trials of the treatments to see if they work.  The patients should inform the process.  

Prioritizing Toxic Environmental Triggers  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

8)  Focus on the highest priority toxicants based on likelihood of exposure, cumulative exposures and toxicity (ATSDR list) and create plans of action to reduce those exposures before studying the 1000's of new chemicals that "might" be a problem.  Successful plans of action will inform future research and interventions for the less common chemicals.  

Screening Tests for Mercury  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

9)  Develop screening tests for mercury and reference ranges for all ages that are more accurate for body burden than blood testing.  Blood testing is only indicative of current exposures and does not reflect past cumulative exposures.  

Autism and Toxic Body Burden  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

10)  Compare the toxic body burdens of individuals with autism vs. age/sex matched controls. Determine biomarkers of interest based on toxic profiles of autistic individuals. For example, we might have lymphocytes from autism and unaffected controls and test for biomarkers of mitochondrial function or immune stimulation from the various chemicals and at various doses.  

Autism and High Interest Pathways  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

11)  NIEHS should do a scan of the literature and map all the pathways affected by autism in the literature so far. Determine where most of the findings in the literature converge thus providing a list of target pathways for intervention. A simple comparison of NIEHS's vast database can provide a list of chemicals, toxins and pollutants that affect those pathways. Not only will this help provide direction of environmental research by giving us priorities in the 80,000 plus chemicals out there but we will also determine the most affected pathways in autism. Research like this will help all affected autoimmune and neurodevelopmental disorder susceptibility groups by honing in on uses of household chemicals of interest, particular pesticides, etc., that we know affect critical pathways and will provide environmental clues for follow up that ordinarily we might miss. 

Neurological Disorders and Glutamate  CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR THIS IDEA

12)  Glutamate, found naturally in some foods and as an additive in others, can be a potent neurotoxin in individuals in susceptible subgroups as it triggers dysfunction in their body's already fragile glutamatergic balance. Disguised as a food additive under many pseudonyms, susceptible groups are being affected unknowingly every day. NIEHS should determine the degree of toxicity, phenotypes of susceptible sub-groups and consider policy to remove this potent excitotoxin from the U.S. food supply.