A federal committee that advises scientists, well being companies, and Congress on autism points has canceled its first public assembly since new members have been appointed earlier this 12 months, in accordance with a spokesperson.
No purpose was supplied. “The IACC won’t meet later this month. Additional data can be shared as out there,” stated Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the Division of Well being and Human Companies, referring to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
The information, first reported by Reuters, comes days after scientists arrange an unbiased model of the federal panel in response to well being secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s transfer to stack the physique with members who align along with his debunked view that hyperlinks autism and vaccines. Historically, the committee was made up of researchers with mainstream scientific views and autistic self-advocates.
The federal group was slated to satisfy on March 19 for the primary time in additional than a 12 months. It’s unclear when it should meet subsequent, although considered one of its members urged on social media that the group would meet in April.
The unbiased group, which had deliberate to satisfy on the identical day, will nonetheless collect on March 19, stated Helen Tager-Flusberg, a member of the brand new group and director of the Middle for Autism Analysis Excellence at Boston College.