Center News

Faculty from the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development led the initiative with funding from an Office of Faculty Advancement Seed Grant: Increasing Neurodiversity Competency of Faculty at Duke University.  Center for Autism team members included Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Tara Chandrasekhar, MD, and Marika Coffman, PhD with collaboration from Minna Ng, PhD, in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.

This enlightening Raise the Line episode with host Lindsey Smith is loaded with the latest understandings about Autism Spectrum Disorder, including advancements in early diagnosis aided by artificial intelligence that include a smartphone app parents can use at home. Dr. Geraldine Dawson, founding director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development also shares advancements in early therapeutic interventions and explains what has contributed to a near tripling of diagnoses over the past two decades.

Anna Laakman, MEd, was awarded the Karen C. Wells, PhD Professionalism Award for the outstanding professionalism, ethics, and compassion she demonstrated as a 2024-2025 Duke clinical psychology doctoral intern, where she focused on autism.

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.

Duke researchers created the SenseToKnow app to help spot signs of autism in children by tracking how they interact with the videos and games in the app. The app was first tested with toddlers and showed promising results. In a recent study with kids aged 3 to 8, the app showed clear differences between autistic and non-autistic children. With further testing, the app might be useful for autism detection in older children.

Raised on a dairy farm in Northeast Indiana, Sarah Sipe developed a strong work ethic early in life and a deep appreciation for community and care. Her academic journey led her to Taylor University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s in Experimental Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sarah’s interest in child development research first took root during a transformative undergraduate trip to Nepal, where she partnered with an organization providing family-based homes

When a child’s early social development doesn’t quite match the typical timeline of milestones and behaviors, parents and other caregivers may wonder about next steps to help their child, as well as what these differences may mean for their child over the long term. Pediatricians also face the question of which children with delayed language or other missed social milestones will need specialized assessments and therapies.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common among autistic people. Less is known about the behavioral characteristics of children who have both conditions when they are toddlers.  A recent study led by associate professor Naomi Davis, PhD, asked caregivers to answer questions about their toddlers’ behavior, including whether they noticed signs of autism or ADHD. The children were then followed over several years. Some were diagnosed with autism only or autism plus ADHD.