
[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]
DIRECTORS THE CAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Portia E. Iversen President (parent)
Jonathan Shestack Vice President, Treasurer (parent)
Ricki Robinson, M.D. Medical Liaison (parent)
Ellen Bolte Secretary (parent)
Sallie Bernard Board Member (parent)
Andrea Bertrand Board Member (parent)
Anthony Edwards Board Member
Elizabeth Emken Board Member (parent)
Nanci Fredkin Board Member
George Jones Board Member (parent)
Jonathan Kaunitz, M.D. Board Member (parent)
Marianne Lynch Board Member (parent)
Jerome Shestack, Esq Board member (grandparent)

THE CAN HONORARY BOARD
THE CAN HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
Leah Rabin, Humanitarian
Maya Angelou, Author, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Rene Russo, Actress
Donna Williams, Author, Nobody Nowhere and other books(Note: Donna Williams was Autistic and part of Autism Network International. Please learn more about them.)
The Honorable Steven R. Rothman Congressman (D-9th NJ)
The Honorable Marge Roukema Congresswomen (R-5th NJ)
The Honorable Jackie Goldberg Los Angeles Councilwoman
THE CAN SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
ABOUT THE ADVISORY BOARD
The Cure Autism Now Scientific Advisory Board is made up of active leaders in the scientific community, representing fields which are highly relevant to autism research such as neurodevelopmental biology, neurology, neuroimaging, learning and cognition, immunology, genetics, biochemistry, and pharmacology.
They have all made outstanding contributions in their own fields and we are proud to have them turning their talents towards autism. These professionals review research proposals for CAN funded grants as well as work together to suggest further research projects leading towards direct clinical application.
BOARD MEMBERS
W. Ian Lipkin, M.D.,
Chair, Cure Autism Now Scientific Advisory Board
Professor Neurology; Anatomy & Neurobiology; Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
UCI-Markey Program in Human Neurobiology
University of California, IrvineDavid Amaral, Ph.D
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
UCD Center for NeuroscienceIra Black, M.D.
Professor and Chair Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Department of Neuroscience and Cell BiologyRalph Bradshaw, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology and Biophysics
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
University of California, IrvineDiane Chugani, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Radiology
Wayne State UniversityEdwin H. Cook, Jr., M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
Director, Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience
University of Chicago – Department of PsychiatryGeraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology and
Center on Human Development and Disability
University of WashingtonSalvatore DiMauro, M.D.
Professor of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons
Department of Neurology
Columbia University, New YorkRobert Edwards, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurology & Physiology
UCSF School of MedicineFred Gage. Ph.D.
Professor, Laboratory of Genetics
The Salk Institute for Biological StudiesDan Geschwind, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director of Neurogenetics Program
UCLA School of Medicine
Reed Neurological Research CenterChristopher Gillberg, M.D.
Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
University of Gšteborg, Annedals Clinic
Gšteborg,SwedenWilliam T. Greenough, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Cell and Structural Biology
Beckman Institute, Center for Advanced Study
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignHilary Koprowski, M.D.
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Thomas Jefferson University, PhiladelphiaJohn Mazziotta, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology, Director, Brain Mapping Division
Reed Neurology Research Center
UCLA School of MedicineSusan K. McConnell, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Stanford University
Department of Biological SciencesBruce McEwen, Ph.D.
Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology
President, Society for Neuroscience
Rockefeller UniversityJim McGaugh, Ph.D.
Director of the Center of the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
300 Qureshey Research Laboratory
University of California, IrvineBruce Miller, M.D.
Professor Department of Neurology
UCSF/Mt. Zion Medical Center
University of California, San FranciscoNancy J. Minshew, M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Autism Research Program and Social Disabilities ClinicBruce Pennington, Ph.D.
Professor Department of Psychology
University of Denver, ColoradoJohn Rubenstein M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
University of California at San FranciscoEli Sercarz, Ph.D.
La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology
Division of Immunology RegulationPeter Whybrow, M.D.
Director, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute
University of California, Los AngelesKirk Wilhelmsen, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology in Residence
Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, San Francisco
CAN believes that early detection, prevention, treatment and eventually a cure for autism are possible. It is only a matter of time, energy, commitment and money. Particularly now, when the explosion in scientific and medical knowledge is leading to important discoveries every day, we cannot let another generation of children slip away.
There was a time, not very long ago, when families with autistic children were told to place their children in an institution and to get on with their own lives. At CAN, we know that the final chapter in the lives of our children has yet to be written. Together, we will turn the page on a brand new chapter of hope.
THE AGRE STEERING COMMITTEE
ABOUT THE AGRE STEERING COMMITTEE
The CAN AGRE Steering Committee for the AGRE project is made up of active leaders in the scientific community, representing fields which are highly relevant to autism research such as neurodevelopmental biology, neurology, neuroimaging, learning and cognition, immunology, genetics, biochemistry, and pharmacology. They have all made outstanding contributions in their own fields and we are proud to have them turning their talents towards autism.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dan Geschwind, M.D., Ph.D.,
Chair AGRE Steering Committee
Assistant Professor
Director of Neurogenetics Program
Department of Neurology
UCLA School of Medicine
Reed Neurological Research CenterMaja Bucan, Ph.D.
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania
http://www.med.upenn.edu/cnb/bucan.htmhttp://www.med.upenn.edu/cnb/W. Ted Brown, M.D., Ph.D.,F.A.C.M.G.
Chairman, Department of Human Genetics
Director, Jervis Clinic
N.Y.S. Institute for Basic Research in
Developmental DisabilitiesJoseph Buxbaum, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department of PsychiatryT. Conrad Gilliam, Ph.D.
Director of Molecular Genetics Laboratory,
New York State Psychiatric Institute;
Director of Gene Mapping Unit, Columbia Genome Center;
Professor of Genetics and Development
Departments of Genetics, Development and Psychiatry
College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia UniversityDavid A. Greenberg, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Biomathematics
Department of Psychiatry
Mt. Sinai Medical CenterDavid H. Ledbetter, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair,
Department of Human Genetics
The University of ChicagoBruce Miller, M.D.
Professor Department of Neurology
UCSF/Mt. Zion Medical Center
University of California, San FranciscoStanley F. Nelson, M.D.
Molecular Genetics
Assistant Professor Pediatrics
Biological Chemistry and Psychiatry
UCLA School of MedicineJonathan Pevsner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Neurology,
Kennedy Krieger Institute and Department of Neuroscience,
Johns Hopkins School of MedicineJerome I. Rotter, M.D.
Medical Geneticist
Director, Division of Medical Genetics;
Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics,
Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors’ Chair in Medical Genetics,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA School of MedicineCarol A. Sprouse, Ed. D.
Children’s National Medical Center
Director of Infant and Child StudiesGerard D. Schellenberg, Ph.D.
Research Professor
Departments of Medicine, Neurology and Pharmacology
University of Washington
Associate Director for Research
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center
Veterans Affairs Medical CenterRudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology (Neuroscience),
Harvard Medical School
Director, Genetics and Aging Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
More With Cure Autism Now
The Autism Community Is Not The Autistic Community

Note/Warning:
Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid.
ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.
The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work.
What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.
The ‘cure’ for Autistics not born yet is the prevention of birth.
The ‘cure’ is a choice to terminate a pregnancy based on ‘autism risk.’ The cure is abortion. This is the same ‘cure’ society has for Down Syndrome.
This is eugenics 2021. Instead of killing Autistics and disabled children in gas chambers or ‘mercy killings’ like in Aktion T4, it’ll happen at the doctor’s office, quietly, one Autistic baby at a time. Different approaches yes, but still eugenics and the extinction of an entire minority group of people.
Fact: You can’t cure Autistics from being Autistic.
Fact: You can’t recover an Autistic from being Autistic.
Fact: You can groom an Autistic to mask and hide their traits. Somewhat. … however, this comes at the expense of the Autistic child, promotes Autistic Burnout (this should not be confused with typical burnout, Autistic Burnout can kill Autistics), and places the Autistic child at high risk for PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions.
[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]
Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.