Autism organizations and scientific bodies have raised alarm about a 336-page federal research strategy prepared by advisers selected by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warning that it redirects resources toward therapies lacking substantial evidence while potentially underfunding genetic research with greater promise.
The strategic plan, developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, was formally adopted following a public comment period. Several federal agency representatives abstaining from the vote cited concerns about having insufficient time to review the proposal. The roadmap proposes nearly doubling annual federal spending on autism services to $760m, with $270m allocated specifically for research activities. If implemented, experts say the plan could substantially reshape autism research priorities for years to come.
A central controversy involves $15m in proposed funding for research into folate biology, specifically the use of leucovorin, a vitamin B9 derivative. The therapy gained prominence after high-profile figures promoted it as potentially beneficial for autistic children, causing leucovorin prescriptions to surge by 71%. However, the FDA subsequently approved the medication only for individuals with the rare condition cerebral folate deficiency, and prominent researchers contend insufficient evidence supports its use for broader autism populations.
Questions about potential conflicts of interest have emerged regarding Dr. Dan Rossignol, an IACC member who runs a medical center providing leucovorin to autistic patients and holds equity in a company developing folinic acid therapies for autism. Rossignol stated he complied with federal ethics guidelines and that any conflicts were disclosed and addressed through required processes. He noted the IACC strategic plan is advisory only without grant-dispensing authority and that any resulting research would operate independently.
While some components of the plan, including lifetime support for autistic individuals and focus on high-support-needs populations, receive cautious support from scientific groups, other proposals generate concern. These include recommendations for rigorous testing of fecal microbiota transplantation, an experimental procedure addressing gastrointestinal issues reported among autistic individuals.
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