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Board G-01

Addressing public concerns regarding childhood vaccinations and autism: Elucidating the mechanisms of virus-induced neurodevelopmental damage in an animal model

M.Pletnikov^1,2, S.Rubin¹,Y.Nishino^1,2,T.Moran², D. Dietz ^1,2, K. Carbone^1,2, LPRVD/DVP/OVRR/CBER, FDA, Bethesda, MD^1,, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD²

A hotly debated and controversial association between childhood vaccines and autism has jeopardized public safety and effectiveness of vaccination programs. However, improving benefit/risk communication to the public and providers is hindered by the poorly understood pathogenesis of autism and the mechanisms by which individual susceptibility to viruses may lead to expression of autism-like symptoms. We study autism-like neurodevelopmental damage using our rat animal model of autism based on neonatal Borna virus disease (BDV) infection. Multidisciplinary analysis of the neurobiological and genetic features of this model gives new insights into the issue of pediatric vaccine safety and suggests the utility of the model for better understanding risk factors associated with pediatric vaccinations.

2002 FDA Science Forum | FDA Chapter, Sigma Xi | CFSAN | FDA

Last updated on 2002-FEB-04 by frf

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