2025 Impact Report | Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development

Dear friends of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development,

What a fantastic year 2025 has been for the center! This year we saw record numbers of participants enrolled in our research studies, diagnostic evaluations completed in the clinic, and attendees at our monthly educational seminars. Your participation and support is vital for finding meaningful answers to our research questions.

With your input, we worked with Duke University to update an informational video about autism with more current knowledge, which they have shared from the university’s YouTube channel.

It was wonderful to have so many families join us at our community events at the Nasher Museum of Art in May, the Duke Women’s Soccer game in October, and at the Carolina Theatre’s Sensory Friendly Film Series throughout the year. We look forward to setting up more fun events with partners across Duke and Durham in 2026.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our mission to understand more about autism, and our small part in working towards a neurodiversity-affirming society.

Best,

Lauren Franz, MBChB, MPH

Interim Director

This year's report is arranged by our mission areas: Research, Community Engagement, Clinical Care, and Education & Training. Scroll down to see how we have made an impact in each of these areas.

Research

Including Kids with Intellectual Disabilities in Research

Child playing with blocks. Overlay of a brain with illuminated EEG points in the background.

Read how the COMET study includes participants with intellectual disabilities, a critical step to identifying and distinguishing categories across the autism spectrum for a more complete picture of autism.

Can Electronic Health Records Reveal Early Signs of Autism?

Cartoon image of several people standing and sitting in front of a large mobile phone with a heart icon

Duke’s AURORA study is using machine learning to uncover patterns in children’s health records that may signal autism before diagnosis. Discover how this groundbreaking research could lead to earlier support.

ACE Research at a Glance

A child points at the screen of a tablet

To make sure that you can learn more about our published research discoveries, a selection of our team's publications are summarized in common language.

infographic displaying total research statistics

Community Engagement

Duke Women's Soccer Plays Game for Autism Center

At their final home game of the 2025 season, Duke Women's Soccer welcomed members of our community. Faculty, staff, and their families greeted players on the field.

ArtVentures at the Nasher: Photo Story

group walks through an art gallery with a guide

We visited Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art for a sensory friendly event with local families. Kids enjoyed making crafts and tours of the galleries led by Nasher staff.

Quick Learner: What is the Autism Spectrum?

We consulted with our Duke ACE Community Engagement Advisory Board to create a new informational video about autism for Duke University's YouTube channel.

Clinical Care

graphic showing 939 diagnostic evaluations provided

Alexandra Bey, MD, PhD, On Research and Patient Care

Alex Bey sitting in a pediatric exam room with colorful toys

We sat down with Dr. Bey for a conversation about her clinical career and research goals, and how her dual roles in research and patient care overlap.

Anna Laakman, PhD, Picked for Ethics Award

Anna Laakman, PhD, was awarded the Karen C. Wells, PhD Professionalism Award for her outstanding professionalism, ethics, and compassion as a clinical psychology doctoral intern, where she focused on autism.

Gary Maslow, MD, MPH, Receives NC Pediatrics Award

Gary Maslow, MD, MPH, the Gorrell Family Distinguished Professor in Children’s Psychiatry, received the 2025 Outstanding Academic Service Award from the North Carolina Pediatric Society.

Education & Training

Our staff and faculty had many opportunities for professional growth in 2025, including presentations, faculty advancement, and awards. Click through the slideshow for more details.

COMET study team members with a research poster

Duke Autism Research Presented at International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Conference

Charlotte Stoute was one of several Autism Center staff to present a research poster at INSAR in 2025.
Angela Claveria, a staff member on the COMET team, was awarded an internship with NASA's Bioinformatics team in Houston.
Elena Tenenbaum, PhD, presented at the Autism Science Foundation's annual conference.
The Duke Autism Seminar Series put leading experts into conversation with a global audience.
The 2025 Psychiatry Research Day was an opportunity for staff and faculty to share methods and findings with the entire Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department, as well as other visitors and speakers.