Presentation of the 3rd International Research and Practical Conference "Autism. Challenges and Solutions" (Moscow, May 21-23, 2015)

1. 3rd International Research and
Practical Conference
«Autism. Challenges and Solutions»
Moscow,May 21-23, 2015

2. At a glance
 International research and practice conference «Autism.
Challenges and Solutions» will be held in Moscow for the
third time. It covers a broad set of issues related to autism
and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The conference is
envisioned not only as an experience sharing event, but also
as an attempt to deal with a serious medical and social
problem which is not getting its fare share of attention in
Russia.
 The educational goal of the conference is to pull autism out
of the shadows. This will create an opportunity to introduce
recent advances in protocols and methods into clinical
practice and to encourage research to solve various problems
of autism.

3. The venue:
RIA Novosti multimedia press center

4. Speakers and participants:
Selected speakers of the last year conference:
 Stephen M.Edelson, Ph.D., Autism Research Institute Director (USA)
 Alexander Poletaev, M.D., Ph.D., professor, head of R&D dept. of Medical Research
Center Immunculus, Moscow, Russia
 James Adams, professor at Arizona State University and co-chair of ARI’s Scientific Advisory
Board USA
 David O. Black, Ph.D, clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist at Pediatrics and
Developmental Neuroscience Branch (PDNB) of the National Institute of Mental Health, USA
 Jill M. Young , Ph.D., BCBA, adjunct professor of Psychology at California State University,
Sacramento
 Andrey Rzhetsky, Ph.D., professor, Department of Medicine Section of Genetic Medicine,
Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology at University of Chicago
 Dr. MitchellTaubman, Ph.D., ВСВА-D, (former adjunct assistant professor of psychology
and co-principal investigator with Dr. Lovaas on a federal grant directed at autism treatment)
 Richard Eugene Frye, M.D., Ph.D, a Child Neurologist and Director of Autism Research at
Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, associate professor in pediatrics at the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. А member of the American Academy of
Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, International Society for Autism Research, and
the Society for Neuroscience.
 Robert K. Naviaux, MD, PhD, University of California, San Diego (Mitochondrial
Mechanisms of Disease and Development)

5. The audience
 More than 2000 people attended the Conference in the last two years
The audience of the conference is very diverse and includes:
 Research Scientists
 Medical doctors (psychiatrists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, geneticists,
pediatricians)
 Special educators (speech pathologists, psychologists and psychotherapists, art
therapists, behavioral analysts)
 science journalists
 government officials
 various parent communities

6. Goals of the conference
Show the results of the pilot stage of a unique experimental project for education of
autistic children based on an innovative model of inclusive education for children with
special cognitive needs, making use of the best international practices and state-of-the-art
research
Demonstrate innovative Russian research and achievements in biomedicine that may help
fulfill various needs in autism .
Discuss the ways and approaches for implementing some of these results into
international practice
Form working groups for implementation of international projects in research and clinical
practice.
Set a starting point for biomedicine development in search of autism clinical diagnostic
methods and ASD intervention approaches
Fulfill a powerful educational mission through massive participation in the conference
and broad media outreach.

7. Featured 2015 speakers:
•Board Certified in Child and
Adolescent Clinical Psychology,
Board Certified in Cognitive and
Behavioral Therapy, Distinguished
University Professor
•Laura H. Carnell Professor of
Psychology
•Temple University
Philip C. Kendall, Ph.D.
Dphil in psychology, BCBA-D,
specializing in video
modelling, Brunel University
London, UK
Christos Nikopoulos
Doctor of psychology,
behavioral consultant,
adjunct professor of
Psychology at California
State University,
Sacramento, USA
Jill M.Young
Professor of human genetics, head
of the Department of Resaerch on
Children with Special Needs at the
National Research Center (NRC),
Egypt. Senior Geneticist at
Genetics Institute, Pasadena,
California, USA; fellow of Uppsala
University, Sweden.
NAGWAABDEL MEGUID

8. Problem beyond politics: Steve
Edelson on autism in Russia
Excerpt from Steve Edelson interview in
a leading Russian newspaper covering
2014 conference :
What is unique about this event? How do you see the level of this conference?
This conference is very much unique, as it gathered the experts from all over the world
even when it was held for the first time. I strived to invite American research scientists
that represent honest and evidence-based information. And the most current
information. Those who attend the conference should have the opportunity to learn
what’s going on now and have a feeling of what is going to happen in the near future.
What hopes can science and clinical practice give to autistic people and their families, and
what is the basis of such hopes.
I believe this international conference in Moscow is one of the best in the world. This is
why I can invite through ARI the people who I believe are the best American researchers.

9. Conference format
”Having listened to hundreds of hours of
European andAmerican conference
recordings I learned one key thing: Autism
conference is not an industry convention, not
a college reunion, and not a shareholder
meeting. Autism conference is really an
intensive educational experience which takes
various forms and shapes.And this
experience is equally fascinating for a
student, a graduate and a professor"
Ekaterina Men, president of Center for Autism Problems,
member of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Health,
member of the Conference organizing committee

10. Main topics
Epidemiology of autism.
Socioeconomic aspects
of autism.
Diagnosing and classifying
“autisms”: potential
biomarkers, test protocols and
assays.
Autism intervention and
therapy:evidence based
methods and experimental
practices
Pathogenesis of
autism:genetics and
epigenetics.
Behavioral science and
autism
Neuroscience perspective
on autism.
Education of autistic
people
Master classes and clinical
seminars: sharing the
know-how
Building the community:
experts, professionals,
parents.

11. Beyond the conference
ABA therapy trainings and practicums
Certification seminars on alternative communication
methods
Clinical workshops with practicing M.D.’s
Interaction with the parent organizations
Entertainment program

12. More than 20 publications and video clips
after following 2013Conference in
Russian and international media, both in
popular and scientific press
Media outreach

13. Sponsorship package
The Organizing Committee invites you to be a partner of the International
Moscow conference «Autism. Challenges and solutions» and support
organizing or financing this event.
The sponsorship package includes:
 Participation in the plenary session.
 Company information, logo and banners on the Conference website
 Distribution of ad materials: (place company info insert into conference
bags, branded souvenirs) (all materials provided by the sponsor).
 Information banner in the main conference hall
 Company information in the media coverage.

14. Contact us
 http://autism-conf.ucoz.ru/
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/autism_conf
 Vkontakte: http://vk.com/public51354261
 Facebook: http://on.fb.me/WTbWmC
 e-mail: conf@autismchallenge.ru
 tel. +7-916-604-91-05