Director’s message: Welcome Lilliam Acosta-Sanchez, Autism BrainNet outreach manager

Welcome to summer! I hope that all of our readers are enjoying well-earned vacations that afford time for fun and reflection.

As I’ve mentioned in previous messages, one of the essential elements in increasing the number of postmortem brain donations to Autism BrainNet is building awareness within the autism community. There are at least 3.5 million families affected by autism in the United States. Yet, a much smaller number is aware of the need for donated brain tissue to enable research into the causes and treatments of autism spectrum disorder.

Lilliam Acosta-Sanchez, MPH

The Simons Foundation has taken an important step forward by hiring a new Outreach Manager whose sole job will be to bring awareness of the need for brain donations to the autism community. Lilliam Acosta-Sanchez joined Autism BrainNet in June 2018. Prior to joining our team,

Lilliam was the Director of Bilingual Health Information and Outreach at the March of Dimes, where she led Hispanic outreach efforts and provided maternal and infant health information and support to women and families. Lilliam has a B.S. in Biology from the University at Albany and a Masters in Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health.

With best wishes,
David G. Amaral, Ph.D.
Director, Autism BrainNet