Your Chance to Listen to and Ask Questions of The World's Top Experts on the Cutting Edge Treatments for Autism!

The Autism Research Institute
presents
DAN! 2000 Conference

DAN! 2000 Conference
September 15*, 16 & 17th San Diego, California
Town and Country Resort & Convention Center

*September 15th will be an all-day training session for licensed healthcare
practitioners on how to implement the DAN! Protocol.

DEFEAT AUTISM NOW! Autism, formerly a rare disorder, has increased in the last decade by 300% to 500% in the U.S. and in many other countries, and is now clearly an epidemic. New ideas on prevention and treatment are needed. DAN! Is needed! Forget the Band-Aid approaches which address the symptoms of autism but neglect the underlying causes. Drugs and intensive teaching have their place, but the goal of the DAN! conference is to eradicate autism rather than ameliorate it.

At the Autism Research Institute we hear almost daily from parents whose children have left autism behind as a result of treatment modalities presented at DAN! conferences. Such reports are wonderful to hear, but there is still much to learn.

DAN! has instilled a new and welcome attitude of optimism in the world of autism. At DAN!, parents and physicians can listen to and ask questions of the world's cutting edge experts on the treatment of autism. The last DAN! conference was sold out weeks in advance. Come and learn!

Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Founder of ARI

Seminar Schedule

Friday, Sept. 15th will be an all-day training session for licensed healthcare practitioners on how to implement the DAN! Protocol. Click here for more details.

Saturday, Sept. 16

8:00 - 9:00 Registration/Exhibitor Viewing/Breakfast Provided
9:00 - 9:30 Dr. Sidney Baker
9:30 - 10:00 Dr. Bernard Rimland
10:00 - 11:00 Dr. Andrew Stoll
11:00 - 11:30 Break/Q&A
11:30 - 12:00 Dr. Jane El-Dahr
12:00 - 12:45 Dr. Stephanie Cave
12:45 - 1:00 Q&A
1:00 - 2:00 Cash Lunch Available
2:00 - 2:45 Dr. Kenneth Bock
2:45 - 3:30 Dr. Woody McGinnis
3:30 - 4:30 Dr. Sudhir Gupta
4:30 - 5:00 Speakers Panel/Q&A
5:00 - 5:45 Secretin Panel/Q&A
6:30 - 10:00 Poolside Dinner -- Click here to learn more about this "delicious" event.

Sunday, SEPT. 17

8:00 - 9:00 Registration/Exhibitor Viewing/Breakfast Provided
9:00 - 9:45 Dr. Sidney Baker
9:45 - 10:30 Dr. Mary Megson
10:30 - 11:00 Dr. Jon Pangborn
11:00 - 11:15 Break/Q&A
11:15 - 12:00 Paul Shattock
12:00 - 12:45 Dr. K.L. Reichelt
12:45 - 1:00 Q&A
1:00 - 2:00 Cash Lunch Available
2:00 - 2:45 Lisa Lewis, Ph.D. and Karyn Seroussi
2:45 - 3:45 Dr. Candace Pert
3:45 - 4:45 Dr. Andrew Wakefield
4:45 - 5:45 Speakers Panel/Q&A

Speakers and Topics

Sidney M. Baker, M.D.
On Saturday: A Clinician's Perspective on the Interventions that Work Best. In opening this years DAN! conference Dr. Baker will briefly summarize his thoughts on how interventions that seem to help the most children may be conceptualized and ranked for priority by parents and practitioners. These are dietary avoidance of gluten and casein, antifungal therapies, avoidance of food allergens, nutritional supplementation, secretin and transfer factor.
On Sunday: Listening. How Can it Be Done When There are So Many Parents with So Much to Say about So Many Symptoms, Lab Tests, Treatments, and Outcomes? Dr. Baker will describe the evolution of a way of using the computer/internet as a "macroscope" permitting the members of our community to see our individual children in the context of otherwise invisibly large patterns revealing what works for which kids. Dr. Baker is a graduate and former faculty member of the Yale Medical School and former Director of the Gesell Institute. He is the primary author of The DAN! Clinical Options Manual, and his most recent books are Detoxification and Healing (1997 Keats), and The Circadian Prescription (2000 Putman).

Kenneth A. Bock, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
An integrated Approach to the Autistic Spectrum Disorders with a Focus on the Transfer Factor. In some autistic children, there appears to be a correlation between the development of regressive behavior and the administration of live attenuated combination vaccinations, specifically the MMR. It is suspected this may be due to a persistent atypical viral infection in a subset of patients that will be predisposed genetically and or have been exposed to some type of immuno-toxicological injury. Subtle nutritional deficiencies may contribute to an immuno-deficit or immunocompromised state. Transfer factors are known to promote an anti-viral cytotoxic immune response and their potential role in children with autism will be discussed. Dr. Bock received his degree from the University of Rochester. He is board certified in Family Medicine and combines alternative and conventional methods in his practice in Rhinebeck, NY. A clinical instructor at Albany Medical College, he co-authored The Road to Immunity and Natural Relief for Your Child's Asthma.

Stephanie F. Cave, M.D.
Immunizations: Practical Safety Issues. We are learning about the vaccine safety issues through the tragic health outcomes of our children. Enlightened by our ongoing research we now have the responsibility of working toward resolution of these issues. Dr. Cave received her degree from Louisiana State University and practices in Baton Rouge. Her special interests are in autism, ADHD, allergy, women's health, environmental health issues, and nutritional medicine.

Jane El-Dahr, M.D.
Making Sense of Immunity and Autoimmunity. The evaluation of a child's immune function and markers for autoimmunity will be discussed. Potential therapies will also be covered. Dr. El-Dahr received her degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. She heads the Pediatric Allergy/ Immunology/ Rheumatology Section at Tulane University Medical Center, where she is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics.

Sudhir Gupta, M.D., Ph.D.
A Network Theory of Autism Presentation will discuss the changes in the immune system in autism and suggest a unifying hypothesis (based upon the immune changes) for metabolic changes, persistence of microbes (e.g., measles, candida,etc.), and presence of peptides in the biological fluids in autism. Biological therapies will also be discussed. Sudhir Gupta, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor of Neurology, Pathology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Irvine, where he also directs the Clinical Laboratory Immunology Training Program. He received his medical degree and Ph.D. from Lucknow University. His work on the IVIG Treatment of autism has attracted international attention.

Woody R. McGinnis, M.D.
Toxic Metals in Autism: Focus on Mercury. Autistic symptoms, laboratory findings and response to treatment suggest toxic metals particularly in the context of auto-immunity. Diagnosis and treatment options will be discussed. Dr. McGinnis received his degree from Colorado Medical School and is a primary care physician in Tucson. Since 1994, his focus has been on physical factors in ADHD and Autism.

Mary Megson, M.D.
Is Autism G-Alpha Protein Defect Reversible with Natural Vitamin A? Autism may be a disorder linked to the disruption of the G-Alpha protein, affecting retinoid receptors in the brain. A study of 60 autistic children suggests that Autism may be caused by inserting a G-Alpha protein defect, the pertussis toxin found in D.P.T. vaccine, in to genetically at risk children. This toxin separates the G-Alpha protein from the retinoid receptors. Those most at risk report a family history of at least one parent with a pre-existing G-Alpha protein defect, including night blindness, pseudohypo-parthyroid--ism or adenoma of the thyroid or pituitary gland. Natural Vitamin A may reconnect the retinoid receptors critical for vision,sensory perception, language processing and attention. Dr. Megson received her degree from the University of Virginia, and is the Director of Developmental Pediatrics at Children's Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. She is Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia.

Jon B. Pangborn, Ph.D.
Digestive Enzyme Inhibition and Autism. The vaccine preservative "thimerosal" could be an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and would account for elevated casomorphine peptides in autistics. Dr. Pangborn received his degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University. His current research, as President of Bionostics, Inc., involves developing enzymes targeted at dietary peptides involved in autism.

Candace Pert, Ph.D.
The Role of Secretin Analog VIP as a Neuroimmunomodulator and the Autoimmunity-Virus-Vaccine Hypothisis of Autism. Our laboratory has shown that the neuro- and immuno-peptide VIP, released from electrically active neurons in rodent brain cultures can overcome neuronal cell death induced by viral products known as "virokines." Last year, we published that inflammatory peptides called chemokines (whose receptors are used by many different viruses as well) unexpectedly regulate neuronal survival and hence neurodevelopment. This information and new data on comparisons of secretin- and VIP-receptor mediated chemotaxis in autistic children and their normal siblings will be discussed in terms of the plausibility of the vaccine hypothesis. Dr. Pert is a research professor at Georgetown University Medical Center. She has published over 200 papers on the relationship between the brain, immune system and the peptide communication network which joins them. She is the author of Molecules of Emotion, Why You Feel the Way You Feel. Dr. Pert has worked as a section chief at National Institutes of Health.

K. L. Reichelt, M.D., Ph.D.
The Chemical Changes in Autism Can Explain Its Pathophysiology. The peptide increase found in Autistic urines has been confirmed by several groups. The exorphins isolated can explain the social indifference, psychotic traits, and analgesia found. A peptide that increases the uptake of serotonin into plateletes can explain the sensory hyper-sensitivity, aggression, impulse control problems and sleep deviations of autism. Finally, both exorphins and serotonin uptake stimulation can explain the trophic changes found in Autism. Dr. Reichelt received his medical degree from the University of Oslo, Norway and is now senior researcher at the Department of Pediatric Research at the University's Children's Hospital. His focus is on neurochemistry, brain and behavior, and autism.

Bernard Rimland, Ph.D
The DAN! Concept: Nutritional Supplements as Examplars. The philosophy underlying the DAN! Concept is an idea whose time has... at last...come. The contrasting positions of drug-based conventional medicine and nutrient-based alternative medicine will be compared as treatments for autism. Dr. Rimland has studied high-dose vitamins in autism for over 30 years. Dr. Rimland is a research psychologist and has been the director of the Autism Research Institute since its founding in 1967. He is the founder of The Autism Society of America and the editor of the Autism Research Review International. His work is credited with changing the field of psychiatry from claiming that autism is an emotional illness to recognizing that it is a biological disorder.

Karyn Seroussi and Lisa Lewis
Research and Resources: Dietary Interventions. A parent-friendly guide to understanding the reasons for dietary intervention, and answers to your questions about the diet. Karyn Seroussi and Lisa Lewis Ph.D., are co-founders of the A.N.D.I, the Autism Network for Dietary Intervention. Together, they publish The ANDI News: a quarterly newsletter providing support for parents of children using biological intervention for their children with autistic spectrum disorders. Karyn and Lisa have both contributed chapters to Dr. William Shaw's book, Biological Treatment for Autism and PDD, and have published additional articles. Karyn's recent article in Parent's Magazine described how her son's autism was resolved using biomedical intervention. She is also the author of a new book Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and PDD-A Mother's Story of Research and Recovery (Simon and Schuster, 2000). Lisa has written for the Autism and Asperger's Digest and serves on the Digest's panel of experts. She is the author of Special Diets for Special Kids (Future Horizons, 1998). Karyn and Lisa have spoken at conferences and workshops around the world helping others understand what is beginning to be known about the nature of, and the treatments for autism. Their goal is see parents and professionals working together; to have autism diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

Paul Shattock
Environmental Factors As Triggers for Autism: Implications for Control and Therapy. There are a number of mechanisms which may trigger Autism in genetically fragile individuals. Identification of these factors should lead to ways to minimize the incidence and to suggest means by which amelioration of the symptoms can be obtained. Paul Shattock is a pharmacist, and the father of an adult with autism, and the U.K. Representative of the International Association Autism Europe. He is also the founder of Communities for Autistic People and European Services for People with Autism which provide residential and day services for people with autism in the U.K.

Andrew Stoll, M.D.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Autism and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Dr. Stoll will discuss: Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of naturally occurring oils found primarily in fish oil, which are essential nutrients for human brain development and general health. Over the past 50-100 years, there has been an accelerating deficiency of the omega-3 fatty acids in most Western countries. There is emerging evidence that this progressive omega-3 deficiency is responsible, at least in part, for the rise in the incidence of heart disease, asthma, major depression, bipolar disorder, and perhaps autism. This talk will review the clinical biochemistry of omega-3 fatty acids, and the possible relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism. Dr. Stoll is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is the Director of the Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital. Previously, Dr. Stoll was Director of Psychopharmacology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, while also teaching and caring for patients. Dr. Stoll is a past recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award in the Harvard-Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program. Dr. Stoll was the first to report the use of omega-3 fatty acids as an effective mood stabilizer and anti-depressant in a controlled study of bipolar patients. His research interests include neuropsychiatry, bipolar disorder, treatment-resistant depression, omega-3 fatty acid and other natural product pharmacology, and the development of new pharmacological and nutritional treatments for a range of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Andrew Wakefield, M.D.
Virus Vaccines, and the Gut in Autism: An Update. Dr. Wakefield will discuss his research on the role vaccines may play in autism and how these vaccines can alter the function of the GI tract. Dr. Wakefield's present positions include: Reader: University Departments of Medicine and Histopathology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London, Director of Research and Chairman, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group. His research has helped to establish the role of measles in Crohn's Disease and a link between MMR vaccinations and the onset of developmental regression, usually in the form of autism.

Please Note!

On May 8, 2000, the IRS issued a ruling that will allow parents to deduct some of the costs associated with attending medical meetings related to their child's health condition. For further information see Internal Revenue Bulletin 2000-19 (May 8, 2000), Rev.Rul. 2000-24, pp963-964.

No Audio or Video Recording Permitted. Audio and Video Tapes will be available at the conference or by calling 1-800-NOW-TAPE.

Accommodations and Local Attractions

In the center of San Diego's Mission Valley is the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, which is described as, "only ten minutes from everywhere..." Sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the Pacific, Sea World Adventure Park, The San Diego Zoo, Mission Bay Aquatic Park, and The Wild Animal Park. Adjacent to the Town and Country Resort, you'll also find world-class shopping, championship golfing, and a tennis and racquet club. On property there is a European Spa and Fitness Center, and easy access to San Diego's Trolley. The Trolley provides transportation to downtown San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Old Town State Park and Tijuana, Mexico. San Diego is rich in arts and culture, steeped in history, and boasts the largest concentration of museums west of the Mississippi.The National Weather Service describes San Diego's climate as the most ideal in the country.

Over the last three years, The Town and Country Resort and Convention Center has spent millions of dollars upgrading their facilities. Their beautifully landscaped campus-like setting boasts four swimming pools, five restaurants, inviting gazebos and a multitude of beautifully designed floral gardens.

The Town and Country Resort and Convention Center
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego California, 92108
Reservations Department: (800) 772-8527 (6:30am-9pm Pacific time)
Main Hotel Number: (619) 291-7131.
Register online: www.towncountry.com
Be sure to request the special three-tier discounted rates of $95, $105,
$115 only available to DAN! Conference attendees.

The Town and Country is conveniently located 6 miles from the San Diego Airport. Taxi service is $15.00.

Travel Arrangements: For discounted airfare contact Pat Lacourt at
New Hope Travel, (800) 777-1337. Be sure to mention the DAN! Conference.

http://www.autism.com/dan/index.html