The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which helps shape how the federal government spends roughly $2 billion on autism research, has a new chair: pediatric neurologist John Gaitanis. The appointment was made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to STAT.
Gaitanis's financial ties to leucovorin, a drug sometimes promoted for autism-related symptoms, raise potential conflict-of-interest concerns. The committee's recommendations can influence research priorities and funding decisions across federal agencies.
Neither Gaitanis nor the committee has publicly commented on how these ties might affect his oversight role. The appointment comes amid broader debates over the use of unproven treatments for autism and the influence of political appointees on scientific advisory bodies.