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When 4-year-old twins
Canyon, left, and Jon Milligan ask for more food, their
mother, Jennifer, insists they ask using complete sentences.
This is still a challenge for them because of the impairment
in communication their autism causes. MU therapists and
doctors encourage Jennifer to elicit speech from the boys
to help them develop normally. Rob Hill photo
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Autism
Research Receives
$8.5 Million Boost
By Jeremy Diener
The University of Missouri-Columbia's efforts
to help children with autism and their families received a major
boost when Chancellor Brady Deaton announced April 29 an $8.5
million gift from William and Nancy Thompson to fund the Thompson
Family Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
“The federal government has declared autism a pressing public
health problem,” said Stephen Jorgensen, dean of the College
of Human Environmental Sciences, who collaborated with faculty
in the Schools
of Health Professions and Medicine to establish the center. “MU has the opportunity to profoundly
influence the future of autism research and treatment through
the collective knowledge and abilities of our researchers.”
Autism spectrum disorders are brain disorders that affect one
in 166 individuals, according to the Centers
for Disease Control. Children with autism experience impairments
in social interaction, communication and the presence of repetitive
behaviors and interests. This affects aspects of development,
learning and adaptation in the community. Little is known about
the causes, treatment and prevention of autism.
“Ongoing, interdisciplinary research at MU has the potential to
produce important breakthroughs in several key areas of autism
studies that will affect children and families across the state
of Missouri and nationwide,” said Brady Deaton, MU chancellor.
“We are committed to improving lives. This center will integrate
autism research, service and teaching at the University. We know
this will make a tremendous difference for those affected by this
condition.”
 Above, left to right: Stephen Jorgensen, dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, looks on as MU Chancellor Brady Deaton presents a rare print of Memorial Union to Nancy and William Thompson on April 29 in appreciation for their $8.5 million gift to the University. Right: The Thompsons hope their gift will help MU researchers make a difference in the lives of children with autism. Rob Hill photos
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Deaton made the announcement to an audience that included a number
of children and parents who already receive autism-related services
at MU. The chancellor recognized two of the University's leading
autism researchers and service providers, Judith Miles, professor
of child health, and Janet Farmer, associate professor of health
psychology, who has directed the launch of the center.
The gift will create two Thompson Endowed Chairs in the School
of Medicine. One chair will be in the Department of Child Health,
where researchers partner with others across campus to determine
which children get better and why. The second chair is in the
Department of Radiology, where researchers will use neuro-imaging
to understand brain development and its relation to autistic behavior.
The gift also provides funding for naming five Thompson Research
Scholars who will enhance interdisciplinary autism research.
“Nancy and I have learned so much about autism through our daughter,
who works with children with autism,” said Thompson. “When it
came time to give back to the community that has given us so much,
we wanted to focus some of that giving on autism research. Our
charge to MU is to make a difference in the study of autism — make a difference for the children with autism today, make a difference
for their families and make a difference for the future, so that
when a child is diagnosed with autism, his or her family has well-founded
hope. We feel strongly that success should be measured one child
at a time.”
 At MU's Center for Autistic Disorders, researchers study autism by examining brain structure and biochemistry to create subgroups within the broad spectrum of autistic disorders. They used two methods to study this 10-year-old boy with essential autism, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (above) determines whether one side of the brian differs structurally from the other because autism is believed to be a left-hemisphere dysfunction syndrome, or one that causes deficits in language and analytical processing. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (right) helps researchers differentiate between essential and complex autism. Complex autism often involves an abnormal brain structure — usually an enlarged cerebellum — caused by a problem with early development. Children with essential autism, such as this boy, tend to have structurally normal brains; problems lie in brain chemistry and function.
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William Thompson earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering
from MU in 1968. While a student at MU, he served as president
of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Missouri
Students Association. He was appointed to the University
of Missouri System Board
of Curators in 1972 and served as chair of the board's Executive
Committee in 1974. Thompson is CEO of PIMCO,
the world's leading fixed-income investment-management firm, headquartered
in Newport Beach, Calif. The firm also has offices in London,
New York, Toronto, Tokyo, Munich, Singapore and Sydney. Thompson
serves as co-chair of the For
All We Call Mizzou campaign national steering committee.
Academic divisions that initially will participate in the center
include the School of Medicine, the School of Health Professions,
the College of Education,
the College of Human Environmental Sciences, and the Truman
School of Public Affairs. Other faculty from across campus
also will be invited to enhance MU's programs for children with
autism and other neurological conditions. Additionally, MU will
strengthen its partnerships with the Missouri
Department of Mental Health and the Department
of Health and Senior Services.
The gift will count toward the For All We Call Mizzou comprehensive
campaign goal of $600 million. To date, $556 million has been
raised. The campaign began July 1, 1999, and is scheduled to end
December 31 of this year.
Autism Experts at MU
Center for Autistic
Disorders, MU’s Children’s Hospital
Judith Miles and Richard Hillman co-direct the center with support
from developmental pediatrician Tracy Stroud and nurse clinician
Cyndy Jones. Miles and Hillman study the genetic causes of autism,
and they have worked to define the two main autism subgroups.
Complex autism results from some type of physical problem with
early development, and the more common and more genetic essential
autism appears to be primarily a brain disorder.
Child Neuropsychology
Clinic, Department of Health Psychology,
School of Health Professions
Health psychologists Janet Farmer and Daniel Orme conduct pediatric
neuropsychological evaluations at Rusk Rehabilitation Center.
Their research focuses on children with special health care needs
and health service delivery systems for children.
Assessment and Consultation
Clinic, College of Education
Research specialist Matt Stoelb conducts research in developmental
therapy and uses behavioral therapy to help children with autism
improve their communication skills. Greg Holliday directs the
clinic, which also provides services for other developmental disorders.
Department of Special
Education, College of Education
Professors Rebecca McCathren and Janine Stichter study the use
of intervention strategies in schools and communities for individuals
of all ages with autism.
Center for Innovations
in Education, College of Education
Phyllis Barks directs this grant-funded center that specializes
in professional development for educators and families and keeps
a large resource library to help parents and teachers.
Department of Communication
Sciences and Disorders,
School of Health Professions
Barbara Brinkman, clinic director, MU Speech and Hearing
Clinic, and Dana Fritz, preschool director, Robert G. Combs Language
Preschool, provide diagnostic, individual and group therapy experiences
for children with a wide range of communication disorders, including
autism spectrum disorders. Phillip Dale, professor and department
chair, studies intervention programs and language development
assessment.
University Hospital
Barb Mitchell is a pediatric dietitian who helps autistic children
maintain healthy diets when they must avoid certain food groups
as part of their treatment.
Institute of Public Policy, Truman School
of Public Affairs
Dana Baker is conducting a survey of families of children with
autism to examine the types of public services they use and the
economic impact the disorder has on them.
The above list of MU autism experts
was published originally in the spring 2005 issue of MIZZOU
magazine.
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September 3, 2008
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