When I first met with Jim, I think the second time we met at his apartment, he was very excited that I had agreed to take this job. He said, 'Gerry, we have 20 years to solve this thing,' meaning to understand what causes autism and how we can cure it. 'I think we're in our 17th year now, so time's running short, but there have been tremendous advances along the way.'

We set up a system, much like the NIH, where people can apply for grants. We wouldn't just give out money, they would apply and we would evaluate progress. And we recruited more staff members, it's called SFARI; Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. I don't know the exact number; I think there's something like 25. But there are many other people that are associated with it, and of course the foundation itself has grown in many different directions.

But Jim and Marilyn have remained focused on autism for personal reasons and science reasons. I love communicating and working with them, both of them. They are the best colleagues in the academic area I think I've ever had. Jim is now 84-plus. I'm 84-minus. No, I'm plus too, but he's more plus than me, he's about six months older. And we're both slowing down, and we both recognize that and rely on colleagues more. Marilyn, on the other hand, seems to have blossomed in science. She's enthusiastic, intelligent and knowledgeable. She's become chairman of the board at Cold Spring Harbor, which is one of their neighbors and close affiliate members for both Jim and Marilyn, and that's where Mike [Wigler] is.