Autism Speaks on Ground-breaking On-line Autism Research Project: IAN (Kennedy Krieger Institute)

April 26, 2007

A letter from Autism Speaks

Dear Members of the Autism Speaks Community,

We at Autism Speaks request your participation in a groundbreaking online autism project that launched last week: IAN, the Interactive Autism Network. Visit today at http://www.ianproject.org and join over 3,000 families who have already registered.

IAN aims to link researchers, families, and the entire autism community to accelerate the pace of autism research. It consists of two complementary parts: IAN Research and the IAN Community.

IAN Research is the nation's largest online autism research effort. Via secure online questionnaires, and from the comfort of their own home, parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can share valuable information only they possess about their child's diagnosis, behavior, family, environment, and services received. IAN Research aims to collect the largest ever data set on children with ASDs- an accomplishment that should help researchers find causes, treatments, and, hopefully, a cure. Over 3,600 affected children and their families have registered. Your participation will help IAN Research reach the initial goal of 10,000.

The IAN Community, a comprehensive online library and meeting place focused on autism research, is open to families, researchers, and anyone impacted by an ASD. Participate in the IAN Community to learn about the latest research, become a more informed consumer of research, and join in a worldwide collaboration of people dedicated to finding answers.

We have all questions; together we can find answers. Become part of the solution!

Sincerely,
Mark Roithmayr
President, Autism Speaks

P.S. Below is more information about IAN Research. View the IAN information in a full color pdf.

A simple keystroke could help a child with autism

As a parent with a child with autism, imagine your keyboard as a gateway to researchers searching for answers about autism. For the first time, you can share information online with researchers who in return, can share those results with you. You could be helping your child and many others with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

It's a bold new move, but one that can be easily achieved using the Internet. What we need is your commitment to sharing the most valuable of all assets... your own personal knowledge and experience.

Share today. And tell others about IAN so research can flourish, uncovering and unweaving the many mysteries surrounding this puzzling disorder. It's an exciting new way to become part of the solution.

Learn more or participate in the IAN network.

A Web Project of Kennedy Krieger Institute * Sponsored by Autism Speaks

Volunteer for Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders

IAN, the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, is looking for volunteers to participate in an online research study. To participate, parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will answer questions online about themselves, their affected child, and other family members. The study's purpose is to increase knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and help find effective treatments. IAN will also match willing families affected by ASDs with other research studies locally or in the United States.

Who Can Participate?

The following people and their immediate family members can participate in this study:

• Anyone who is living in the USA and who is less than 18 years of age, who has ever been told by a professional that they have any of the following
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Autism
  • Asperger Syndrome
  • Autistic Disorder
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
  • Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)
• By "immediate family members" we mean biological or adoptive parents and full or half siblings.

Principal Investigator: Paul Law, M.D., M.P.H.
JHM IRB#: NA_00002750