The International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICare), a New York City-based non-profit organization, announced plans to create the world’s first Global Autism Center on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem, Israel.

In a ceremony at Jerusalem’s City Hall hosted by Mayor Nir Barkat, ICare4autism’s Founder and President Joshua Weinstein signed an agreement paving the way for ICare4autism to acquire the 5-acre campus of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design when the Academy relocates to downtown Jerusalem in 2013.

The Global Autism Center’s mission will be to catalyze breakthrough innovation in autism research and treatment by driving powerful multidisciplinary collaborations among the world’s leading investigators, educators and clinicians. When complete and ready to open in 2014, the 300,000 square foot center will include the following unique elements:

• A state of the art research facility to serve as a global platform for investigative collaboration between medical, academic and educational institutions, and synthesize autism-related information worldwide.

• The world’s first university-level school of professional autism studies, raising the standards of therapeutic practice worldwide by providing specialized advanced education to physicians, educators and therapists.

• An educational center applying the latest research, cutting-edge technology and innovative design to the special needs of students between 18 months and 21 years of age with Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and PDD.

• A foundation which will provide grants and subsidies to develop a global network of affiliate organizations, and support their collaborative efforts to transform autism education and treatment worldwide.

Regarding the new facility, Joshua Weinstein said, “I founded ICare4autism because 20 years in the field convinced me that in order to successfully tackle the global autism epidemic, we need a global community of researchers, educators and advocates that cuts across artificial disciplinary, institutional, cultural and national borders. For the first time, our new Global Autism Center will give us the ability to convene, enable and empower that community.”

“The Global Autism Center will drive the research needed to at last discover the biologic and environmental causes of autism; and create opportunities for the powerful multi-disciplinary collaborations needed to bring better methods of detection and treatment to patients and their families all over the world,” said Dr. Eric Hollander, the Chairman of ICare4autism’s Scientific Advisory Council.

“On this historic day, we welcome The International Center for Autism Research and Education’s plan to create a Global Autism Center on Mt. Scopus,” said Mayor Barkat, “and we look forward to the breakthroughs in autism research that will emanate from its Jerusalem campus to benefit the entire world.”