Welcome

You are cordially invited to this national conference on Autism Research, to be held at the Open University in May 2007. The conference will bring together key researchers from across the UK, who are currently working on the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and will showcase the range of research perspectives from diagnosis and assessment, aetiology and genetics, to biological and psychological perspectives as well as educational and therapeutic interventions.

Following the progress and direction taken by research into autism since the MRC 2001 review and the Mapping Autism Research report of 2004, this conference will provide a forum for communication, exchange of ideas and debate, centred upon key findings from Autism Research Centres and individual researchers around the UK that have shaped our understanding of Autism over recent years.

Representation has been secured from the the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the Economic and Social Research Council, the National Autistic Society, and Autism Speaks, to outline their respective views on the direction and challenges faced in autism research. We are also delighted that Dame Stephanie Shirley will be giving an address on "Challenges to Autism research" at the conference dinner.

It is our privilege to have been involved in organising this conference, and to host the event at the Open University. We are also grateful to the MRC, Wellcome Trust, Autism Speaks, the British Neuropathological Society, the British Psychological Society and Autism Unravelled for their generous sponsorship.

We look forward to welcoming you in May, to what promises to be a successful and memorable meeting.

with warm regards,