Molecular Psychiatry (2002) 7,S1 2002 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 1359-4184/02 $25.00 www.nature.com/mp INTRODUCTION TO AUTISM Banbury Center of Cold Spring Harbor meeting on microbiology, immunology and toxicology of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders February 11–14, 2001 Molecular Psychiatry (2002) 7, S1. doi:10.1038/ government and autism foundations could pursue con- sj.mp.4001160 sensus regarding what we know and what we need to know. What emerged was a patchwork of intriguing observations and recognition that autism spectrum dis- In autumn 1999 Jan Witkowski generously agreed to orders impact several organ systems and are likely to host a meeting at the Banbury Center of Cold Spring be multifactorial. Banbury Meetings are closed and Harbor to address concerns that the frequency of typically do not result in publications; however, autism was increasing in Europe and North America, autism research is only beginning to crystallize as a and that vaccines containing attenuated measles virus field; thus, participants were eager to share their data or thimerosal (used as a preservative in multidose vac- and insights with a larger audience. We hope that this cine preparations) might be implicated in pathogenesis supplement will sharpen focus on autism spectrum of autism spectrum disorders. With support from Co- disorders and attract new investigators to this frontier. Organizers, Mady Hornig (University of California, Although the meeting was convened 11–14 February Irvine) and David Amaral (MIND Institute of University 2001, manuscripts were submitted in the winter of of California, Davis), the extraordinary staff at Banbury 2001–2002. Manuscripts are presented without editing Center, and input from participants, this meeting was for content. A generous gift from Judith P Sulzberger expanded to review the status of research and treat- to the Center for Developmental Neuroscience of ment of autism spectrum disorders. The MIND Institute Columbia University has allowed us to produce this of UC Davis, Cure Autism Now Foundation, and the supplement. National Alliance for Autism Research provided fin- ancial support. The Banbury Center and crisp weather WI Lipkin of Long Island in February provided an intimacy New York, New York wherein investigators and representatives from academia, February 2002 Correspondence: WI Lipkin, Center for Immunopathogenesis and Infectious Diseases, Columbia University, 722W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Email: [email protected].