2007 Accomplishments

As SafeMinds continues to serve the public in accomplishing our mission, below are some highlights of 2007:

  • Funded the following research and other program activities:
    • Richard Deth of Northwestern on thimerosal effects on glutathione and methionine synthase in mouse brain using mouse strains from Mady Hornig's lab. Co-funded by NAA. SafeMinds' portion is $21,000.
    • Elizabeth Sajdel-Sulkowska, D.Sc. of Harvard, "Brain region-specific oxidative stress in autism; standardization of tissue protocols and evaluation of potential artifacts", with mercury detection and identification of mercury-associated biomarkers in autism and control postmortem brains and rat brains as animal models. Co-funded with ARI. SafeMinds portion is $18,000.
    • Vas Aposhian, University of Arizona, detection of mercury in autism brains versus controls, using postmortem samples. $79,000.
    • Mady Hornig and grad student, Columbia University, evaluation of feasibility of studying Stella Chess archives at Columbia of mothers and offspring exposed to rubella and immune globulin with thimerosal in 1960s. Cost TBD but is estimated to be under $5,000.
    • $10,000 to fund the Age of Autism blog launched by Dan Olmsted.
    • $10,000 for research as part of the Autism Collaboration.
  • SafeMinds board members Mark Blaxill and Laura Bono served on the planning committee for a workshop sponsored by the Institute of Medicine on Autism and The Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research.Attended the NIEHS workshop on Children's Environmental Health on Asthma, Lead, Metabolic problems, ADD/ADHD.
  • Submitted public comments on IACC Autism Research Matrix.
  • Sponsored David Kirby and Arthur Allen debate at UC San Diego.
  • Responded to CDC Autism Prevalence study. Attended Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting.
  • SafeMinds president Lyn Redwood attended a stakeholders meeting sponsored by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs in Herndon, Virginia.
  • Supported the recommendation banning the use of mercury in all prescription and over-the-counter products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
  • Lyn Redwood attended the vision setting meeting for the Congressionally Directed Department of Defense Autism Spectrum Disorder Research program in Herndon, Virginia
  • SafeMinds board members Mark Blaxill, Laura Bono, Sallie Bernard and Lyn Redwood participated in the IOM workshop.
  • Mark Blaxill wrote paper, "Implications of Autism Genome Project Consortium Findings."
  • Responded to University of Missouri Study on autism and Rh immune globulin injections.
  • Met with NIEHS to further the autism research agenda and to begin the follow up from the IOM meeting.
  • Met with NCEH at the CDC to discuss the symptoms seen in autistic children, what seemed to be happening, what the current theories were regarding glutathione, inability to detox, etc.
  • Met with the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities to share that we want to help autistic children with effective treatments and that getting correct figures and declaring an epidemic were keys to creating a national research agenda focused on the cause and cure of autism.
  • Lyn Redwood participated in an NIH Autism Strategic Plan Brainstorming Meeting held in Bethesda, MD
  • Lyn Redwood and Laura Bono met with Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of NIMH and Dr. Duane Alexander, Director of NICHD as a follow up to the IOM workshop regarding opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships.
  • Presented notebook by hand-delivery to the Office of Research and Integrity (Division of HHS) in Bethesda, MD regarding the flaws of the VSD.
  • Laura Bone began to get involved as the SafeMinds representative to the Public Private Partnership group at NIEHS.
  • Lyn Redwood served as a reviewer for the IOM Report "Autism and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research report.
  • Lyn Redwood and Laura Bono met with representatives from NCEH, NIMH and HHS to discuss next steps necessary to begin investigations into toxicant exposures in children diagnosed with autism.
  • Lyn Redwood attended the NIH IACC meeting on behalf of SafeMinds.
  • Rallied volunteers around the country to help distribute 5,000 SafeMinds brochures exposing the risks of thimerosal containing flu vaccine. Board member Scott Laster launched online flu vaccine campaign.
  • SafeMinds board members presented at Autism One, DAN! conferences and local meetings around the country.
  • SafeMinds Autism One fundraiser raises $22,000.
  • SafeMinds FunnyRaiser held in Atlanta – Heidi Roger, Scott Laster, Lyn Redwood, Laura Bono and so many other volunteers helped make this night a huge success!