Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development

As part of Duke’s NIH Autism Center of Excellence research program, Duke researchers are developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool that uses information already collected in a child’s electronic medical record to estimate the likelihood of autism.

Before a screening tool like this can be used in pediatric primary care, it is important to understand how clinicians and caregivers want the information presented and used. We conducted this study to learn their preferences and use that information to guide the design of the tool.

Learn more: https://autismcenter.duke.edu/news/designing-ai-based-autism-screening-tool-users-mind

What started as a way for faculty, students, and staff to hear from a researcher outside of our center has grown to a world-wide platform that connects Duke to the world’s autism experts and shares Duke’s expertise with the world.

Read how the Duke Autism Seminar Series has grown and advanced the center’s mission since 2014: https://autismcenter.duke.edu/news/bringing-world-duke-and-duke-world

Check out this podcast to hear from Duke Psychiatry's Dr. Tara Chandrasekhar on adult autism for the community psychiatrist ⤵️

📣📣📣New podcast episode out now! Dr. Tara Chandrasekhar and Dr. Anish Dhamija discuss how community psychiatrists can better understand and support autistic adults in healthcare and their everyday lives. Tune into the podcast to learn more! Now available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.

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Caitlin Bullard, PhD, was awarded the Karen C. Wells, PhD Professionalism Award for the outstanding professionalism, ethics, and compassion she demonstrated as a 2025-2026 Duke clinical psychology doctoral intern, where she focused on autism. The award is presented to a graduating intern and the recipient is selected by the graduating intern class.

Psychology interns work under the supervision of Jill Howard, PhD, director of the Duke Autism Clinic. Bullard also worked with Nicole Heilbron, PhD, in her psychosocial treatment clinic rotation and with Gary Maslow, MD, in primary care.

After a national search, renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Lauren Franz has been selected as director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development.

Dr. Franz served as the center’s associate director from 2022 to 2024 and interim director since 2024, when founding director Dr. Geraldine Dawson stepped down from the leadership role.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Franz on her new role. We look forward to continuing to work with her and supporting her vision for the future of the center.
https://ow.ly/NpgQ50ZkAxb
Duke University School of Medicine
Duke Health

Doctors often record concerns about a child's speech and language before assigning a formal diagnosis. In our study, only about half of children with documented concerns had a diagnosis recorded at that visit, and many received one later. This pattern may reflect ongoing monitoring over time before a diagnosis is recorded.

Read the open-access paper from Duke and North Carolina Central University researchers at https://academic.oup.com/jamiaopen/article/9/3/ooag090/8707577
Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Duke Institute for Brain Sciences Duke Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Dr. Jill Howard is the Director of the Duke Autism Clinic, and has completed the Duke Clinical Leadership Program!

Read our latest Connections Newsletter for news, research, and community highlights from the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development!
https://t.e2ma.net/webview/g9738i/ab44f0dbc8925e7f7d0be56496e4e69e

Children with autism are three times more likely to experience constipation than the general population and current treatments don’t always work well for them.

For Nova and her mom, finding answers wasn’t easy. Now, their story is helping bring attention to a hidden challenge many children like her face.

They are why Duke Health and UNC Health are teaming up on a $12.9M national study to find better treatment options. This research highlights the power of our NC Children's partnership to bring hope to families across North Carolina and beyond.

https://www.wral.com/lifestyles/health/gi-struggles-children-with-autism-unc-health-duke-study-may-2026/

Duke Children's | Duke University School of Medicine

The 2026 International Society for Autism Research, INSAR meeting, held in Prague, provided an opportunity for Early Start Denver Model trainers from across the globe to connect in person.

Highlights from Duke included presentations by Lauren Franz, MBChB, MPH; and Vikram Aikat.

Dr. Franz is the interim director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. Aikat is a PhD candidate in computer science and works on the SenseToKnow project.