Autism Research Leaders Launch Independent Committee to Counter RFK’s Panel

A coalition of leading autism researchers and advocates has formed the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee to guide evidence-based research priorities and counter recent changes to the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) overseen by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, according to Reuters.¹ Critics say Kennedy’s appointees include individuals tied to debunked claims that vaccines cause autism, prompting scientists to establish an alternative body focused on rigorous science and improved care for people with autism spectrum disorder.

The IACC was established in 2006 to provide nonbinding guidance on national autism research and services, helping to coordinate approximately $2 billion in annual government research funding and bringing together scientists, advocates, clinicians, and people with autism.² In late January, Kennedy appointed 21 new members to the IACC, the advisory body that helps shape national autism research, policy, and services. The slate includes physicians, nonprofit leaders, advocates, educators, and self-advocates with a mix of professional and lived experience with autism, from psychiatry and systems biology to advocacy organizations and personal caregiving roles.

Kennedy’s announcement emphasized that these appointees would help advance breakthrough innovations in autism research, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and align policy with what he described as “gold-standard science.” However, several appointees have been associated with groups or viewpoints that question established scientific consensus on vaccines and autism or promote alternative treatment approaches, drawing controversy from mainstream researchers and advocacy groups who worry the panel may shift focus away from widely accepted, evidence-based research priorities.³

Critics, including former IACC members and major autism science organizations, have warned that this shift could roll back decades of progress in autism research and potentially mislead the public.¹ Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation and a member of the newly formed independent committee, said scientists felt “we needed to take real action to ensure continued progress in autism science.” They expressed concern that federal guidance might prioritize fringe theories—such as vaccine-autism links that extensive research has repeatedly discredited—over genetic, neurological, and environmental research grounded in rigorous science.

In response to these developments, the new Independent Autism Coordinating Committee will function as a science-centered alternative, developing a strategic research agenda and convening experts to discuss key topics in autism research and care.⁴ Its inaugural meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2026, the same day the federal IACC is holding its first session with the new lineup.

Supporters of the independent body emphasize that it will mirror the federal committee’s schedule but focus strictly on evidence-based guidance.⁵ They intend not only to set research priorities but also to address and publicly clarify areas where mainstream science diverges from claims that might arise in federal discussions, particularly where misinformation could affect public health decisions or the well-being of individuals with autism.

The emergence of this parallel body highlights broader tensions within US public health policy under Kennedy’s leadership, where similar independent groups have formed in response to changes in federal vaccine advisory panels.⁶ These developments underscore a growing divide between scientific communities advocating for conventional research approaches and federal decision-makers whose policy directions have unsettled many public health experts.

As the new committee begins its work, its members say they hope to reassure researchers, clinicians, and families that evidence-based science remains at the forefront of autism research and that the broader scientific community will continue to drive progress in understanding and supporting individuals with autism.

References

1. Respaut R. Autism researchers form independent committee as counter to Kennedy-appointed group. Reuters. Updated March 4, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/autism-researchers-form-independent-committee-counter-kennedy-appointed-group-2026-03-03/

2. Secretary Kennedy appoints new Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to advance fight against autism. News release. HHS. January 28, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-kennedy-appoints-new-interagency-autism-coordinating-committee.html

3. Tanne JH. RFK Jr names anti-vaccine members to federal autism committee. BMJ. 2026;392:s216. doi:10.1136/bmj.s216

4. Autism research leaders announce Independent Autism Coordinating Committee (I-ACC). News release. Autism Science Foundation. March 3, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026. https://autismsciencefoundation.org/press_releases/i-acc-announcement/

5. Broderick OR. Autism researchers rebuke Kennedy, form independent advisory group. STAT News. March 3, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026. https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/03/autism-researchers-rebuke-kennedy-form-independent-advisory-group/

6. Scientists create autism panel, citing RFK Jr’s politicization of research. The Washington Post. March 3, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/03/03/independent-autism-advisory-committee-rfk/