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In May 2003, we were awarded a new Autism Research Center of Excellence
(part of the Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment/STAART
program), funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The central purpose of our Center is to develop an integrated interdisciplinary
program of research, which addresses the underlying causes, developmental
course, and treatment of the social and affective deficits that
define the syndrome of autism. We will also be collaborating on
additional studies with other STAART Centers located around the
country.
We are a multi-site Center conducting research at the following
institutions:
This Center also includes scientists from the University of Massachusetts-Boston,
Harvard University, and Brandeis University.
For more information about the STAART Center research underway
at Boston University, please visit our Frequently
Asked Questions page.
The Center is directed by Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D. and Susan
Folstein, M.D. They have each been conducting research on autism
for over 25 years. Dr. Tager-Flusberg is most well known for her
work on language, communication and theory of mind impairments in
autism, while Dr. Folstein is one of the leading experts on the
genetic basis of autism.
Our Center also brings together a team of leading investigators
from the following fields:
- neurosciences (including anatomy, pathology, chemistry, imaging,
and cognitive neuroscience); Gene Blatt, Ph.D. (Boston University
School of Medicine), Thomas Kemper, Ph.D. (Boston University School
of Medicine), Margaret Bauman, M.D. (Boston University School
of Medicine), Richard Davidson, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin,
Madison), and Morton Gernsbacher, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin,
Madison)
- psychiatry and pediatric neurology; Bryan King, Ph.D. (Dartmouth
Medical School), Margaret Bauman, M.D.
- developmental and clinical psychology; Alice Carter, Ph.D. (University
of Massachusetts, Boston), Hill Goldsmith, Ph.D. (University of
Wisconsin, Madison), Aline Sayer, Ph.D. (Harvard University),
Robert Joseph, Ph.D. (Boston University School of Medicine)
- family studies and social policy; Marsha Seltzer, Ph.D. (University
of Wisconsin, Madison), Marty Krauss, Ph.D. (Brandeis University)
The goals of our research program are:
- To understand the development of young children with autism.
Toddlers who receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder will
be followed over five years and evaluated on a broad range of
neuropsychological, language, temperament, and other child and
family measures.
- To investigate the reciprocal effects of having a child
with autism on family functioning with special emphasis on the
influence on social adaptation and emotional well-being in both
the child and family members. We expect that the outcomes of these
studies will lead to the development of programs that will provide
help and support to families during key transitional stages during
the early years of caring for a child with autism.
- To investigate the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie
the primary and co-occurring social and affective deficits in
autism, with special emphasis on the following brain regions:
amygdala, anterior cingulate, hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.
A multi-method approach will be used in these basic and clinical
studies including neuropathology, neurochemistry, structural imaging,
and functional imaging.
- To evaluate the effects of different interventions, including
behavioral and pharmacological treatments on both primary and
co-occurring social, communication and affective symptoms in autism.
We also plan to develop new ways of measuring the effectiveness
of treatments.
In addition to the exciting research that will be conducted within
the Center, we plan to become a primary resource on autism for children,
families, professionals, and programs serving the needs of the community
at regional and national levels. We plan to offer support services
to the families participating in our research through our associations
with local clinical programs and to develop educational and informational
materials that will allow for the rapid dissemination of new research
and clinical findings through a dedicated website and other research
programs.
For more information about this study
please contact Kristin
Dame
kdame@bu.edu |
