By Fionnuala Quinlan

A PROMINENT Irish doctor last night dismissed reports that research to be published next month will prove a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Professor John O'Leary of Trinity College was responding to articles in a number of British Sunday newspapers which claimed his research team had found the strain of measles contained in the MMR vaccine in the stomachs of children with both autism and bowel disorders.

The reports suggested Dr O'Leary's study took the association between MMR, autism and bowel disease - first mooted by Dr Andrew Wakefield in 1998 - a leap further.

However, in a strongly-worded statement issued yesterday, Dr O'Leary said his research details a new way of detecting strains of the measles virus.

"The research in no way establishes any link between the MMR vaccine and autism," he said.

"I wish to make it clear that I and my research team have consistently advocated immunisation and the use of MMR to protect the nation's children from measles, mumps and rubella."

The pathologist said he had investigated children with autism and a new form of inflammatory bowel disease, but added: "These children represent only a minute fraction of children with autistic spectrum disorder. Neither this publication nor any public presentation made by me or my research team has stated that MMR causes autism."

While the study found a biological association between the presence of measles virus and new variant inflammatory bowel disease in the context of autism, it did not conclude that the measles virus causes autism. The measles virus is also found in children who are not autistic, he said, and urged parents to immunise their children.

Earlier this year, Dr O'Leary published research which found the measles virus in the guts of 75 children with autism and bowel disease. The newspapers reported that his new research identified the measles virus as that which is contained in the MMR vaccine rather than the naturally-occurring virus.

Kathy Sinnott of the Hope Project last night said she was not surprised at Dr O'Leary's statement as he has consistently maintained a pro-immunisation stance.

Both Dr O'Leary and Dr Andrew Wakefield told the Oireachtais hearings that while they believe MMR is safe for the majority of children, screening should be introduced to identify those who have auto-immune or gastro-intestinal problems or a family history of adverse reaction to vaccines, she said.

"They have always stressed that they are not anti-vaccine, but raised questions about the safety of the vaccine for susceptible children. They never said that any research had found a link," she said.