July 12, 2005

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center director to receive autism research award

Vanderbilt Kennedy Center director Pat Levitt has been awarded the 2005 Research Champion Award by the Autism Society of America (ASA).

Download a high resolution photo of Pat Levitt.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ Vanderbilt Kennedy Center director Pat Levitt has
been awarded the 2005 Research Champion Award by the Autism Society of
America (ASA)
.

The award will be presented at the Evening of Champions Dinner,
Friday, July 15, during the ASA‘s annual meeting, July 13-15, here in
Nashville at the Convention Center.

Levitt directs the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human
Development, a national center for research on development and
developmental disabilities. He is chair of the Scientific Advisory
Board of Cure Autism Now and is an elected fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science
. He is a member of the Dana
Alliance for Brain Initiatives
, the National Scientific Council on the
Developing Child
, the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Center
for Toxicological Research
and the MacArthur Foundation Network on
Brain Development and Development of Behavior
. His genetics and basic
research studies focus on understanding the basis of autism and other
neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and how genes and
the environment together influence development.

Other ASA honorees include Art Sellinger of the Long Drivers
Association, Travis Laboy of the Tennessee Titans and Bernard Rimland,
director of the Autism Research Institute and founder of ASA.

Celebrate Autism Society of America‘s 40th Anniversary Evening of
Champions Gala Dinner will have entertainment provided by Ronnie
Milsap. Tickets are still available at www.autism-society.org.

ASA was the first organization in America dedicated to providing
education, advocating for legislation, promoting research, and raising
awareness about autism.

Media contacts: Jan Rosemergy, (615) 322-8240
Jan.rosemergy@vanderbilt.edu

Melanie Catania, (615) 322-NEWS
Melanie.catania@vanderbilt.edu