About IAN
Date Last Updated: April 16, 2010
IAN, the Interactive Autism Network, was established in January 2006 at Kennedy Krieger Institute. IAN's goal is to facilitate research that will lead to advancements in understanding and treating autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). To accomplish this goal, we created the IAN Community and IAN Research.
IAN is funded by Autism Speaks and the Simons Foundation. IAN also has a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
IAN Community
The IAN Community is an online environment designed to act as an inviting library and meeting place where everyone concerned with autism spectrum disorders can learn more about autism research. Everyone can participate and benefit from the IAN Community.
Our goal is to help you:
- Understand the research process
- Keep up with the latest research findings, news, and events
- Understand the value of participating in autism research
- Influence the direction of research
We hope that the IAN Community will bring individuals with ASDs, their families, and friends together with researchers, therapists, educators, and other professionals in the autism field. The goal is to better understand this complex disorder through research and collaboration, and to develop effective strategies that will improve the lives of people on the spectrum.
IAN Research
IAN Research is scientific study where individuals with ASDs, their families, and qualified researchers throughout the United States work together to understand autism spectrum disorders. IAN Research connects researchers to individuals with ASD and their families --the people who live with autism day to day-- to uncover the secrets of this complex disorder.
Without leaving home, participants provide information in a secure online setting about diagnosis, behavior, family, environment, and services received. Participating parents report on their child’s progress over time. Adults with ASD share information about their experiences and needs. Researchers from different institutions throughout the country will work with this information to learn about the effect and interaction of factors such as genetics, environment, and treatment, as well as the current situation and needs of those affected by ASD.
IAN Research will match willing individuals and families with appropriate local and national research projects. This partnership will solve one of the major difficulties that autism research projects face—recruiting enough participants. Each year, many useful and innovative studies in the United States are not completed or are significantly delayed because researchers cannot find enough participants who qualify; valuable opportunities to learn about autism are lost.
Individuals with ASD and their families may benefit directly from this match because they will be able to participate in research that they would not have known about without IAN. Participation may also provide opportunities to learn more about ASDs and their impact. (More about IAN Research)
IAN's Team
The IAN team consists of the IAN staff, who work at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as a Parent Advisory Committee, Editorial Board, and Scientific Advisory Committee.
Contact Us
Visit our Contact Us page for information on how to reach us.
Spread the Word About IAN
Would you like to tell others about the IAN Project? Go to our Spread the Word page for a sample e-mail you can send or to order brochures.
Related Articles
Read about IAN's accomplishments and future plans as we celebrate IAN's First Anniversary!
