Twelve years ago there were few biologists who identified themselves as autism researchers, science was moving slowly, and autism was not attracting the resources it deserved. Frustrated and knowing that so much more could be done, parents bonded together and declared they would sponsor research to prevent, treat, and cure autism. Now, over a decade later, each day brings new revelations. Autism is on everyone's radar, on every magazine cover and on every talk show.

Looking back to 2006, the year began with news that a neural network known as mirror neurons appears to be less active in individuals with autism, making mirror neurons arguably the top research story in autism in a long while. Later that year a common variant of a gene known as cMET was discovered to increase autism risk by 2.5-fold in families with more than one affected child, the highest relative risk factor so far described. Finally, just as 2006 came to a close, after lobbying so passionately families received word that Congress had just passed the Combating Autism Act, one of the most comprehensive pieces of single disease legislation ever passed by the US Congress, authorizing nearly $1 billion to autism research and surveillance.

This, then, is the momentum with which we entered into 2007, a truly transformative year. To remind ourselves of our progress and focus us on the many positive developments in autism, this year the Autism Speaks' Scientific Advisory Council has released the first list of the Top Ten Autism Research Events of the Year. Click on the following link to read about some of the most significant happenings in autism research in 2007 - the events that now lead us into 2008.