Center News

Our team tested the accuracy of the SenseToKnow app for autism screening when used by caregivers at home on their own mobile phone or tablet. The results showed that the mobile autism screening app can be done at home and still provide a high level of accuracy for identifying autism in toddlers, comparable to the results of earlier studies in our clinic and lab.

The possibilities for remote screening could lower barriers to autism screening, reduce disparities in early access to services and support, and improve children’s outcomes.

Faculty member Elena Tenenbaum, PhD, presented "Utilizing AI to Understand Early Development in Infants" at the Autism Science Foundation's 2025 Day of Learning. This presentation was based on research from the RISE study.

Ashleigh Waterman, a Duke undergraduate student has been funded for her work on our RISE project by the Simons Foundation's Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN)!

Ashleigh presented her poster "Remote assessment of infant memory of social vs non-social stimuli" at a recent meeting of SURFiN fellows in New York.

“Autism is not one condition.” Geraldine Dawson, founding director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, talks about the spectrum of conditions autism presents, the arc of development, and support strategies.

Originally from Panama and Denmark, Charlotte Stoute brings a multicultural perspective to her work here at the center. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Duke, Charlotte was among the first to begin working at the Autism Center in 2015. Through her ten-year tenure, Charlotte has grown into her role as Regulatory coordinator, and excels at helping studies across the center. Charlotte is especially passionate about research that improves access to services for families facing structural or linguistic barriers to care.

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development collaborated with Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art to host a sensory friendly event for local families. Kids enjoyed making crafts and tours of the galleries led by Nasher staff, all in a structured, small-group setting.

Duke University collaborated with the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development to produce this brief video explaining the autism spectrum.

David Akinsooto, clinical research specialist with the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, carries a child through a gallery at Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art during a sensory-friendly arts event. Kids and families had the opportunity to make fun crafts and experience the galleries in small groups led by Nasher Museum tour guides, all in a structured environment. The event was a collaboration between the museum and the autism center.

In 2024, Duke autism researcher Jane Marryat and team compared toddlers’ scores on the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT), which is used to screen for autism in young children, with another measure of behavioral and emotional concerns. Findings suggest that high scores on an MCHAT autism screening may indicate other behavioral concerns such as ADHD that should alert clinicians and families to additional support needs for young children.

Rebecca Sorensen is a member of the Duke Autism Center of Excellence Community Engagement Advisory Board. See her son Raimee’s story in this video from PBS North Carolina.