Autism's causes remain a mystery, but researchers at the University of Michigan could soon have a better understanding of it. The school is getting $1.6 million in federal funding to determine what social and environmental factors cause autism.
The college has committed to a 3-year study of the disorder.
Marie Lynn Miranda is the dean of U of M's School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
She says none of the existing autism databases contain significant information about social or environmental exposures.
"What we're trying to do is leverage the existing databases," Miranda says, "but add a much richer set of data layers to those databases, allowing researchers to focus on a much broader set of questions."
Miranda says they're already compiling a list of stakeholder groups and scientists they want to work with once the project starts.
