(WHAS11)—The Louisville middle-school student who sold homemade beaded bracelets to raise more than $200,000 for a University of Louisville autism study is now trying to raise $300 million for an autism center in Louisville.  But, because of “philosophical differences,” Michala Riggle’s proposed research and treatment center is not affiliated with the autism center announced by U of L in June.
 
Riggle’s family said they believe the autism of her eight year old brother, Evan, was triggered by the vaccinations he received about the time he was one-year-old.  But, the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the Institute of Medicine “all agree that science does not support a link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism.”
 
Concerned that the conventional medical community had already made up its mind on the issue, parents Emlyn and David Riggle decided to attempt the unlikely project on their own.
  
”We want to be able to leave no stone unturned,” Emlyn Riggle said. “We want to be able to search the world over to find who is doing the best most cutting edge research without being hindered by special interest groups.” 
 
In an interview with WHAS11’s Joe Arnold, the dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine was quick to debunk the suggestion that his researchers are biased.  Asked directly if the University of Louisville has a position on the suggested link between vaccines and autism, Dr. Edward Halperin was emphatic.

”No.  The University of Louisville has a stance on supporting free inquiry,” Halperin said. “I have at least four members of the faculty at this medical school whose area of research is allegations about links of autism to vaccines. That’s what they do. That’s where they get their scientific credentials.

”They are funded by federal agencies for such research.  And the University’s stance is that people have a right to follow their own nose for the truth,” Halperin said.
 
In fact, in what was a surprise to the Riggle family, Halperin disclosed that university  faculty are, in fact, currently researching the allegation that vaccines are connected to autism.
 
”We will rely mostly on toxicology studies and population studies and that’s what people are doing,” Halperin said.

As Halperin revealed that research, he also said there are dangers of acknowledging it.

”Be careful,” Halperin said. “Every time the media talks about vaccine scares, deaths of children rise from preventable diseases.”
 
”We must take any allegation about links very seriously from both sides of the equation,” Halperin said. “No one likes to see children harmed and have the problems of autism.  No one likes to see children harmed from infectious disease, but the university’s stance is that this is an area of free academic inquiry.”

Meanwhile, neither the Ramsey Middle School student nor her family are speaking ill of the university, leaving the door open to future collaboration.
 
”Clearly we encourage them to continue the work that they are doing in the area of autism research,” Emlyn Riggle said. “But down the road, who’s to say, there might be a partnership or connection.  We’re in competition with no one. We’re out to defeat autism.”
 
”I’m glad they’re going to build one also,” Michala Riggle said. “Because two heads makes it smarter.  But we can.  If they have one and we have one, it doesn’t bother me, but it’s definitely going to help.  I do know that.”
 
As for the university?
 
”We welcome anyone who has a similar mission and respects our views on free inquiry and proper scientific research,” Halperin said.


Michala plans to launch a national fundraising drive in April, perhaps with the help of actress and Kentucky native Ashley Judd.
 
Halperin said money is an issue, especially considering the effect of the shaky economy on potential benefactors’ portfolios.  He believes the organization of the U of L autism center is crucial for contributors. 
 
”People who like to donate money and scientific agencies that like to fund this area of work want to see a coordinated center where people say we have all our oars in the water.  We’re going the same way,” Halperin said.
 
Halperin laid out the status of the U of L autism center.
 
”I currently have 25 FTE’s, full time equivalents on my faculty working on autism and spending a little over $2million a year on autism research and clinical care. We are working hard now on recruiting an autism center director for the University of Louisville, combining our facilities in a single geographic location, hiring additional scientists for the autism center, and at the end, the public should expect to see an autism center not a lot different than a cancer center or a heart center, a place where people gather together for clinical care and for research,” he said.
 
”But something very important for universities, for education.  Because you and I have to worry about where the next generation of autism researchers are going to come from.  Who’s going to train the next generation of scientists and clinicians and psychologists?  And also universities do something very important in autism that other organizations don’t—interactions with the school system,” Halperin said.
 
The Riggle project aims to be a sort of headquarters for both research and treatment.
 
”We just want to be the place where parents get the resources and information they need,” Emlyn Riggle said. “And kids get the help that they need both medically and behaviorally.  And ultimately, where the best researchers can come together and find a cure for autism.”

While not commenting on the Riggle’s proposed center, Halperin’s said his vision differs.
 
”I don’t think at the end of the day what we want to see is one massive building that forces people to come from great distances here for all needs,”  Halperin said. 

Interviews with autism experts and a visit to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill autism facility have contributed to his plan.

”What you want to have is a center where laboratory research and education can occur.  But as far as services to children and their parents, you want to train the trainers, so that you can distribute services throughout the state,” Halperin said.

The “x” factor in the dual autism center saga is Michala, who began the “Beading to Beat Autism” project on her own after overhearing her parents discuss the money needed by the University of Louisville and Kosair Children’s Hospital to conduct a study on a therapy which had already helped her brother, Evan.
 
”He’s been babbling more, making eye contact.  It’s a lot better than what it used to be,” Michala said.
 
WHAS11’s coverage of Michala’s success in raising the money was featured on Good Morning America in December, 2007.  Then, producers of the “Ellen (DeGeneres)” show booked her to appear.  It was on that national broadcast that Michala blurted her dream of the autism center.
 
The Build-a-Bear company named her a “Huggable Hero,” and flew Michala to Washington, D.C. with other young aspiring volunteers.  Michala has been omnipresent at community events, selling bracelets and recruiting hundreds of others to help her craft more for the nationwide drive.
 
Michala recalled a pivotal moment in her young life, one night five years ago.
 
”(My mom) was tucking me into bed and I said, ‘Mom what if when we grow up, you and Dad had died and me and Dawson had died, what will happen to Evan when the rest of us die?”  She asked her stunned mother who explained, “’There’s a place that they can take kids that have disabilities.’
 
”But she also told me hopefully he’ll be cured by then.  And that’s what I think will happen too,” Michala said.

At U of L, though excited about MRI research on how the brain of people with autism
react to stimuli, Halperin said he was less optimistic.
 
”If you’re asking me, do we understand the human brain enough that within my lifetime this entity can quote - be cured - close quote? Not with our current state of knowledge.  We need to know a lot more about how the brain works and what happens when it’s, to use my cliche, wired differently,” Halperin said.

Halperin and the Riggle’s may be wired differently from each other, but they share a common adversary.
 
In Michala’s remarks to community groups she said she is fond of recalling a biblical story. 
 
”David beat Goliath with a stone and a sling,” she said. “We will beat autism with a bead and a string.”

Her mother beams.
 
”Autism is Goliath,” Emlyn Riggle explains, “and I truly believe Michala is going to beat it.”

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Evan Riggle

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Emlyn Riggle

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Michala Riggle