2008 GUEST LECTURERS

 

Paul Ashwood, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and with the M.I.N.D. Institute at the University of California at Davis. He earned his Ph.D. at King’s College London where he focused on the role dietary particulates may play in causing inflammation in gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease. His research since his degree has been directed at characterizing the role of the immune system in autism. Dr Ashwood’s initial research focused on describing dysregulated immune responses in a subgroup of children with autism who had gastrointestinal symptoms. His current research interests are now focused on the many connections between the immune system and the nervous system and how they may have a role in the development of autism.

 

Joseph D. Buxbaum, Ph.D., is Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neuropsychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His lab is using the techniques of molecular genetics to identify and ultimately characterize the genes that contribute to autism susceptibility. Dr. Buxbaum is a Lead Investigator for the Autism Genome Project, which includes hundreds of scientists studying the causes of autism. Such studies will lead to major progress in this area over the next decade, which will lead to much better and earlier diagnoses as well as targets for drug intervention.

 

Laura Schreibman, Ph.D., is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, San Diego, where she has been on the faculty since 1984. She earned her Ph.D. at UCLA where she focused on the field of behavior analysis and treatment of children with autism. Her research since her degree has continued in the same vein and she currently directs a federally-funded research program focusing on the experimental analysis and treatment of autism. Her general research interests have included the analysis of speech and attentional deficits, generalization of behavior change, parent training, self-management, peer training, and issues of assessment. She is the author of over 120 research articles and book chapters as well as three books. Her latest book, The Science and Fiction of Autism, published by Harvard University Press, was released in November of 2005.

 

PANEL MEMBERS

 

* +      Enrico Bombieri, Ph.D., Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ.

* +      Gina Del Giudice-Asch, M.D., The Hospital for Special Surgery,

                    Cornell University Medical Center.

*          Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D., Organization for Autism Research, Arlington, VA.

   +       Lee Grossman, Autism Society of America, Washington, DC.

*          Freeman Dyson, Ph.D., Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ.

            Richard Mainzer, Ed.D., Council for Exceptional Children, Washington, DC.

            Linda S. Meyer, Ed.D., M.P.A., N.J. Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community, Inc., Trenton, NJ.

* +      Alexander Polyakov, Ph.D., Princeton University Department of Physics.

*          Marie Bristol Power, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health (ret.), Bethesda, MD.

* +      Clarence Schutt, Ph.D., Princeton University Department of Chemistry

 

*          Honorary Advisory Committee members

+         Parents of children with autism

 

 

SESSION SCHEDULE

 

8:15 - 9:00       Registration and Refreshments

 

9:00 - 9:15       Welcoming Remarks

 

Thomas P. McCool, Ed.D.

President and CEO, Eden Family of Services

 

9:15 - 10:30     KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 

                        Evidence of Dysregulated Immune Responses in Autism

                        Paul Ashwood, Ph.D.

 

10:45 - 12:00   KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 

                        The Genetic Architecture of Autism

                        Joseph D. Buxbaum, Ph.D.

 

12:00 - 1:00     Lunch will be provided

 

1:00 - 1:30       Because of Alex …

 

                        Clarence Schutt, Ph.D.

                        Co-Chair, Honorary Advisory Committee

 

1:30 - 2:45       KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 

                        The Science and Fiction of Autism

                        Laura Schreibman, Ph.D.

 

3:00 - 4:30       Question and Answer Panel

                        Featuring our Guest Lecturers and Panel Members

                        Moderated by Anne S. Holmes, M.S., C.C.C., B.C.B.A.