International Symposium on the Microbiome and Autism
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, June 2014
Some meetings stand out, but it can be difficult to say exactly what made a certain meeting important. The meeting in Little Rock will definitely be remembered: it was well organized, the program was excellent just as the lectures, there were not too many participants, and the atmosphere was friendly. However, this is characteristic of many meetings. What made the Little Rock meeting unique was the openness and a feeling that ‘we are all rowing the same boat trying to reach the same goal’. The discussions were vivid and constructive and all participants – parents, social workers, clinicians, and basic scientists – participated. With a slight travesty of a famous statement, I would describe the meeting as a small step for science but a giant step for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Best of all, the breadth of experience is reflected in the articles included in this thematic cluster.
Tore Midtvedt
Editor-in-Chief