Center News

Applications are now being accepted for the Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program! The program aims to equip trainees with specialized skills and advanced methodologies in developmental neuroscience research with a focus on child psychiatry and neurodevelopmental conditions.  

Born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Vikram Aikat grew up in a household where research was part of everyday life—his mom is a computer science professor and his dad teaches journalism at the University of North Carolina. His first introduction to Duke came during high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM), just down the street. Vikram later attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar, majoring in Computer Science and Quantitative Biology.

Many young autistic children also have ADHD, which can impact the child’s experiences. However, figuring out which autistic children have ADHD can be difficult. This new paper from Duke researchers describes an approach that providers can take to identify ADHD in autistic kids. Read the full paper at https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2025.2521856

Born in Bristol—a unique city split between Tennessee and Virginia—Owen Wilson grew up with one foot in each state. His academic journey began at the University of Virginia, where he majored in Cognitive Science and Spanish. During his second year, Owen studied abroad in Valencia, Spain, immersing himself in the language and culture while traveling across the country.

Alexandra Bey, MD, PhD, is a child psychiatrist in the Duke Autism Clinic and a researcher in the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. Dr. Bey’s research and clinical career is dedicated to improving the lives of those with neurodevelopmental disorders. Communications strategist Evan Watson sat down with Dr. Bey for a conversation about her career and research goals, and how her dual roles in research and patient care overlap.

Autism develops from many different influences during early brain development. In this article, Duke researchers Alexandra Bey, MD, PhD, Scott Soderling, PhD, and Geraldine Dawson, PhD, explain a “threshold” model: no single gene or factor causes autism on its own. Instead, they describe how many small genetic differences, together with certain environmental influences before birth, can add up and increase the likelihood that a child will develop autism. Read the full article (open access) at https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI201157

At their final home game of the 2025 season, Duke Women's Soccer welcomed members of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development community. Faculty, staff, and their families were invited to greet players on the field, and form a high-five tunnel as the starting players were announced. Duke defeated Clemson 3-2 to earn the #3 seed in the ACC Tournament.

Originally from Virginia, Abby Scheer spent her childhood nestled in the scenic mountains of Roanoke, where the Blue Ridge Parkway sparked a lifelong love of nature and tranquility. Summers and holidays brought her to North Carolina, where she connected with her Chapel Hill and Pinehurst roots—developing a taste for North Carolina peaches and a strong work ethic from time spent on her family’s farm.

“Nothing about us without us”—a refrain often heard in autism and disability communities—reflects the notion that, to effectively meet the needs of these communities, members of these communities must be invited to participate in and help inform research and policies.

You're Invited - Duke Women's Soccer is dedicating their home game on October 30 to the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development! Join the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development to enjoy a game and share our mission of helping autistic people reach their fullest potential throughout their lives. Women’s Soccer: Duke vs Clemson