§284g. Expansion, intensification, and coordination of activities of National Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism
(a) In general
(1) Expansion of activities
The Director of NIH (in this section referred to as the "Director") shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism.
(2) Administration of program; collaboration among agencies
The Director shall carry out this section acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and in collaboration with any other agencies that the Director determines appropriate.
(b) Centers of excellence
(1) In general
The Director shall under subsection (a)(1) of this section make awards of grants and contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for centers of excellence regarding research on autism.
(2) Research
Each center under paragraph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical research into autism. Such research should include investigations into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of autism. The centers, as a group, shall conduct research including the fields of developmental neurobiology, genetics, and psychopharmacology.
(3) Services for patients
(A) In general
A center under paragraph (1) may expend amounts provided under such paragraph to carry out a program to make individuals aware of opportunities to participate as subjects in research conducted by the centers.
(B) Referrals and costs
A program under subparagraph (A) may, in accordance with such criteria as the Director may establish, provide to the subjects described in such subparagraph, referrals for health and other services, and such patient care costs as are required for research.
(C) Availability and access
The extent to which a center can demonstrate availability and access to clinical services shall be considered by the Director in decisions about awarding grants to applicants which meet the scientific criteria for funding under this section.
(4) Coordination of centers; reports
The Director shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among centers under paragraph (1) and ensure regular communication between such centers, and may require the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the centers and the submission of the reports to the Director.
(5) Organization of centers
Each center under paragraph (1) shall use the facilities of a single institution, or be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed by the Director.
(6) Number of centers; duration of support
(A) In general
The Director shall provide for the establishment of not less than five centers under paragraph (1).
(B) Duration
Support for a center established under paragraph (1) may be provided under this section for a period of not to exceed 5 years. Such period may be extended for one or more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of such center have been reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review group established by the Director and if such group has recommended to the Director that such period should be extended.
(c) Facilitation of research
The Director shall under subsection (a)(1) of this section provide for a program under which samples of tissues and genetic materials that are of use in research on autism are donated, collected, preserved, and made available for such research. The program shall be carried out in accordance with accepted scientific and medical standards for the donation, collection, and preservation of such samples.
(d) Public input
The Director shall under subsection (a)(1) of this section provide for means through which the public can obtain information on the existing and planned programs and activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to autism and through which the Director can receive comments from the public regarding such programs and activities.
(e) Funding
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are in addition to any other amounts appropriated for such purpose.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, §409C, as added
Codification
Another section 409C of act July 1, 1944, is classified to section 284k of this title.