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Nov 8 VA: Autism & Vaccines: How Bad Science Confuses the Press &
Harms the Public

Saturday, Nov 8, 1:30 pm
Public & FREE

Steven Salzberg, Ph.D.,University of Maryland
Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

National Science Foundation, Room 110
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA *

Sponsored by the National Capital Area Skeptics
http://ncas.org

Ten years ago, an article appeared in the medical journal The Lancet
that suggested a link between autism and the vaccine for measles,
mumps, and rubella. The article was widely cited in the popular press
in England, and vaccination rates began to fall. Further
investigations revealed that the data in the study had been
manipulated, and that the principal scientist had a major conflict of
interest, with the result that 10 of his 12 co-authors repudiated the
study's findings.

Numerous scientific studies since 1998, all done in response to the
original Lancet article, have failed to find any link between autism
and vaccines. Despite this, a few scientists and doctors continue to
push the connection, often accompanying their claims with promises of
"alternative" treatments for autism. The press keeps the issue alive
by reporting "the controversy," often accompanying their reports with
emotional testimonials from parents, including several celebrities. As
a consequence of this publicity, vaccination rates are now falling in
the United States, leading to alarming new outbreaks of diseases.

Scientists and skeptics need to act to quell the rumors and educate
the public, so that vaccines, one of the greatest medical successes in
history, remain an effective tool in our fight against disease.


Dr. Steven Salzberg is the Director of the Center for Bioinformatics
and Computational Biology and the Horvitz Professor of Computer
Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. From 1997 to 2005
he was at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) in Rockville,
Maryland, where he had a leading role in projects to sequence the DNA
of many pathogens, including the anthrax bacteria used in the 2001
attacks. He contributed computational tools and analysis to the Human
Genome Project and to projects decoding the genomes of many other
animals and plants. His group's computational tools are used around
the world in a wide range of genome sequencing projects today. His
current genomics projects include a large-scale study of the influenza
virus, the development of new DNA sequencing technology, and studies
of the bacteria living inside the human body. Dr. Salzberg received
his bachelor's and master's degrees from Yale University and his Ph.D.
from Harvard University. (home page)


* NSF is one block south of the Ballston-Marymount University metro
stop on the Orange Line. For most drivers, Route 66 to Fairfax Dr. to
N. Stuart Street is the easiest route. Enter the NSF building at the
corner of N. Stuart Street and 9th St. N. Parking is available in the
Ballston Common mall, in the NSF building, and at other area parking
lots and garages. Metered parking is also available on the surrounding
streets.