Welcome Message from the Interim Director
Research
Including Kids with Intellectual Disabilities in Research
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?
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.
Plain Language Research Summaries
To share our published research more broadly, a selection of our team's publications are summarized in common language.
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
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
Alexandra Bey, MD, PhD, On Research and Patient Care
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.
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 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.