More and more researchers from the US mainland are looking at health issues in American Samoa.
A special group of people has attracted the attention of a US research group studying a developmental disorder.
American Samoa is the first US territory that has been invited by the Simons Foundation Powering Autism for Knowledge to participate in a study about autism … a developmental disorder that’s believed to be the fastest growing.
The Foundation is an Oregon-based research center which is also known as SPARK.
Over the next three years, 21 academic research centers will be working together to complete one mission …and that is to understand and ultimately help improve the lives of people with autism and their families.
Child psychiatrist and team leader of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon Dr. Eric Fombonne gives the details.
(DrEricstory)
The project also hopes to connect parents of children with Autism. The study requires that families and individuals also provide a valid address for kit samples.
For more information, please see Sandra Scanlan or log on to sparkforautism.org
