INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE - 2021 - SUMMARY OF ADVANCES in Autism Research

Oct 15, 2026

2021 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research compiles plain-language summaries of 20 selected scientific studies reflecting significant progress in autism research. The document highlights advances across screening and diagnosis, including disparities in monitoring and screening and effects of family navigation; biology and early social communication development; genetic and environmental factors such as vitamin D findings; interventions including medication use and intranasal oxytocin; services and supports related to access and costs; lifespan outcomes; and infrastructure and prevalence estimates using established surveillance networks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The 2021 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research

Articles Selected for the 2021 Summary of Advances

Screening and Diagnosis

Biology

Genetic and Environmental Factors

Interventions

Services and Supports

Lifespan

Infrastructure and Prevalence

Citations List—Articles Selected for the 2021 Summary of Advances

Full Listing of Nominated Articles

Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Member Roster

Office of Autism Research Coordination Staff List

INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2021 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES in Autism Research INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE 2021 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES In Autism Research COVER DESIGN NIH Medical Arts Branch COPYRIGHT INFORMATION All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied. A suggested citation follows. SUGGESTED CITATION Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). 2021 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research. April 2023. Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee website: [https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/summary-of-advances/2021/](https://iacc.hhs.gov/publications/summary-of-advances/2021/). ii ABOUT THE IACC Te Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a federal advisory committee charged with coordinating federal activities concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and providing advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on issues related to autism. Te Committee was established by Congress under the Children's Health Act of 2000, reconstituted under the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006, and renewed most recently under the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2019. Membership of the Committee includes a wide array of federal agencies involved in autism research and services, as well as public stakeholders, including autistic adults, family members of those on the autism spectrum, advocates, service providers, and researchers, who represent a variety of perspectives. Te IACC membership is composed to ensure that the Committee is equipped to address the wide range of issues and challenges experienced by individuals and families in the autism community. Under past and present authorizing legislation, the IACC was and is currently required to (1) develop and annually update a strategic plan for autism research,(2) develop and annually update a summary of advances in autism research, and (3) monitor federal activities related to autism. Trough these and other activities, the IACC provides guidance to HHS and partners with other federal departments, research and advocacy organizations, and the broader autism community to accelerate research and enhance services with the goal of positively impacting the lives of people on the autism spectrum and their families. *** For more information about the IACC, see [http://www.iacc.hhs.gov](http://www.iacc.hhs.gov). iii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION VI ARTICLES SELECTED FOR THE 2021 SUMMARY OF ADVANCES 1 SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS 3 Race/ethnic inequities in conjoint monitoring and screening for U.S. children 3 and under: Disparities in Monitoring and Screening 4 Efect of Family Navigation on Diagnostic Ascertainment Among Children at Risk for Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial From DBPNet 5 Sex diferences in scores on standardized measures of autism symptoms: a multisite integrative data analysis 6 BIOLOGY 7 Early social communication development in infants with autism spectrum disorder 8 Infant vocalizing and phenotypic outcomes in autism: Evidence from the frst 2 years 9 Children with ASD and Communication Regression: Examining Pre-Loss Skills and Later Language Outcomes Trough the Preschool Years 10 GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 11 Impact of autism genetic risk on brain connectivity: a mechanism for the female protective efect 12 Developmental vitamin D and autism spectrum disorders: fndings from the Stockholm Youth Cohort 13 INTERVENTIONS 14 Medication Use in Youth With Autism and Attention-Defcit/Hyperactivity Disorder 15 Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder 16 Efect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis 17 iv SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

FAQs

What is the purpose of the 2021 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research?

Each year, the IACC releases a list of scientific advances representing progress in autism research. The 2021 summary provides plain-language highlights of top research breakthroughs selected by the committee.

How were studies selected for the 2021 Summary of Advances?

The summary reflects studies nominated by IACC members and then selected by the IACC for inclusion. The document notes that 20 studies were selected for 2021.

Which research areas are covered in the 2021 summary?

The table of contents organizes content into screening and diagnosis, biology, genetic and environmental factors, interventions, services and supports, lifespan, and infrastructure and prevalence.

Oct 15, 2026

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