Sec. Kennedy & Causes of Autism Webinars
April 15, 2025
In response to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s announcement of a “massive testing and research effort” into the causes of autism spectrum disorders, Executive Director Dr. Suzanne Buchanan writes to the Autism New Jersey community and invites them to learn more in a series of webinars in May.
Dear Autism New Jersey Community,
I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside many of you for the past 25 years, as you discovered diagnosis, fought for your children’s educational rights, grieved the realities that often come with providing 24/7 care to children who have profound needs, and celebrated small and big achievements.
Our community is diverse, ranging from self-advocates who have brought autism acceptance efforts into their workplace and communities; to families who face the constant worry of “what will happen to my child when I am gone;” to providers who work tirelessly to provide much-needed services; to lawmakers and professionals in a range of industries who are committed to making their sectors and communities autism-friendly.
And we’ve always stood together on the foundational commitments of promoting evidence-based treatments, like ABA, and supporting good-faith and scientifically rigorous research into the causes of autism. (In fact, every research study we promote in our monthly newsletter undergoes clinical review by our in-house experts.)
Late last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines with his promise to find the causes of autism by September by undertaking a “massive testing and research effort.”
This sort of large-scale expedited research effort has been undertaken and fruitful before. For example, the nationwide “Cancer Moonshot,” which was launched in 2016, earmarked millions of dollars for cancer research, and helped nearly 8 million people receive necessary screenings for breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, prostate, and skin cancer over the span of nine years.
A similar effort targeting the causes of autism could be beneficial, if the research studies it creates meet the same criteria that all reputable medical research should meet: it’s based on scientific procedures and principles; the study or experiment can be replicated by a third party (like a science lab that did not participate in the original study); and it has been reviewed by others in the scientific community.
Rigorous research into the causes of autism has been occurring across the nation for decades, including right here in our own backyard at Rutgers University. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of sitting down with three esteemed Rutgers researchers, and we discussed exciting new frontiers in research. They said the cause (or causes) of autism are likely very complex and include interactions between an individual’s genes, their environments, and their brain structures. Within these three categories, there are numerous potential causes to explore, including:
- Gene mutations, such as Fragile X syndrome which leads to the lack of an important protein
- The prenatal environment, including drug interactions and air pollution
- Variations in brain shape, functioning, and connectivity
New discoveries are made every year that nudge us closer to knowing the causes of autism. But these Rutgers researchers and their counterparts across the world will likely need years or decades to tease out a definitive answer.
Autism New Jersey always welcomes good-faith efforts to support and further science-backed research, led by credible institutions and scientists, like the team at Rutgers. We hope Secretary Kennedy will choose to fund and pursue research in the broad categories we mentioned above.
And we want to invite you, our community members, to learn about current research, too.
In May, we are launching a free, three-part webinar series: “The Complex Causes of Autism,” where Rutgers professors will break down their research and findings in simple terms. You’re invited to attend — and you don’t need a background in science to join! Parents, individuals with autism, providers and professionals in a wide range of fields will find the information timely and insightful.
Autism New Jersey continues to stand by your side. Please remember if you have questions about anything — treatment options, insurance coverage, special education policies and more — you can reach out to our 800.4.AUTISM Helpline.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Executive Director
sbuchanan@autismnj.org