IMFAR - The International Meeting for Autism Research

The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), a scientific and professional organization devoted to advancing knowledge about autism spectrum disorders, convened more than 1700 researchers, delegates, autism specialists and students from 40 countries for the 13th Annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), the world's largest scientific gathering on autism research, from May 15 through May 17 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA.

Researchers and clinicians exchanged and disseminated the latest scientific findings and stimulated progress in autism research into the nature, causes and treatments for ASD during a series of scientific and educational panels, oral sessions and poster presentations. The meeting also featured demonstrations of innovative technologies and events designed for stakeholders and special interest groups`.

"As the scientific investigation of ASD continues to advance at a remarkable pace, IMFAR has become an essential and exciting forum for researchers and clinicians to share findings with each other and the broader autism community," said Francesca Happé, PhD, president of INSAR. "It is impossible to attend IMFAR and not be inspired and energized by what we are learning from our colleagues, as well as our stakeholders."

"The research presented at this year's IMFAR is incredibly promising as we are translating scientific discoveries into clinical programs that make a difference in our ability to diagnose and treat autism from infancy to adulthood," said Laura Klinger, PhD, co-chair of the IMFAR Scientific Program Committee. "For example, we will be discussing ways to detect symptoms of autism as early as two months of age and the importance of treating anxiety and depression among adults with ASD. The global reach of this conference, with researchers from Atlanta to Addis Ababa presenting and sharing ideas to better serve individuals with ASD and their families worldwide, is particularly inspiring."

"I can't think of a more dynamic area of scientific endeavor than the field of autism research, which, as this meeting demonstrates, has attracted many of the most impressive scientific minds to the cause of helping people with autism, including some impressive, young researchers," said Joseph Piven, MD, co-chair of the IMFAR Scientific Program Committee. "IMFAR provides a critical opportunity for dialogue and fosters a spirit of collaboration among the full array of scientists focused on ASD research."

A press conference was held on May 14 focusing on notable research at IMFAR. The following studies were featured:

A first glimpse of the developmental profile of sibling resilience: 2-24 months eye tracking-based developmental trajectories of eye fixation -- W. Jones and A. Klin, Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine.

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