114 STAT. 1106 PUBLIC LAW 106-310—OCT. 17, 2000 Grants. Contracts. and coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism. "(2) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM; COLLABORATION AMONG AGENCIES. —The Director shall carry out this section acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and in collaboration with any other agencies that the Director determines appropriate. " (b) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. — "(1) IN GENERAL. —The Director shall under subsection (a)(1) make awards of grants and contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for centers of excellence regarding research on autism. "(2) RESEARCH. — Each center under paragraph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical research into autism. Such research should include investigations into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of autism. The centers, as a group, shall conduct research including the fields of developmental neurobiology, genetics, and psychopharmacology. " (3) SERVICES FOR PATIENTS. — "(A) IN GENERAL. —^A center under paragraph (1) may expend amounts provided under such paragraph to carry out a program to make individuals aware of opportunities to participate as subjects in research conducted by the centers. "(B) REFERRALS AND COSTS. —A program under subparagraph (A) may, in accordance with such criteria as the Director may establish, provide to the subjects described in such subparagraph, referrals for health and other services, and such patient care costs as are required for research. "(C) AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS.—The extent to which a center can demonstrate availability and access to clinical services shall be considered by the Director in decisions about awarding grants to applicants which meet the scientific criteria for funding under this section. " (4) COORDINATION OF CENTERS; REPORTS. — The Director shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among centers under paragraph (1) and ensure regular communication between such centers, and may require the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the centers and the submission of the reports to the Director. "(5) ORGANIZATION OF CENTERS. —Each center under paragraph (1) shall use the facilities of a single institution, or be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed by the Director. " (6) NUMBER OF CENTERS; DURATION OF SUPPORT. — "(A) IN GENERAL. —The Director shall provide for the establishment of not less than five centers under paragraph (1). "(B) DURATION. —Support for a center established under paragraph (1) may be provided under this section for a period of not to exceed 5 years. Such period may be extended for one or more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of such center have
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