Center News

Billy Carson, originally from Hilliard, Ohio, has been with the Duke Autism Center since 2019. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Ohio State University and then relocated to North Carolina to continue his studies at Duke University. Currently, Billy is in the final stretch of his PhD program in biomedical engineering under the guidance of Dr. David Carlson. His research focuses on employing interpretable machine learning techniques to understand brain activity in children with autism.

One-on-one time with Duke University baseball players made a unique experience at the third annual Baseball Duke Bonanza even more extraordinary. Running the bases, catching a ball in the outfield, and trying out the batting cages in a college ballpark will be special memories for the children who participated.

Born and raised in the quaint village of Peninsula, Ohio, Lori Reinhart-Mercer grew up surrounded by the picturesque landscape of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, historical and natural wonders, and a deeply rooted sense of community. Her journey beyond Peninsula led her to Ohio University, where she pursued a passion for animal behavior, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology. Following this, a shift into healthcare beckoned, prompting her to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Goshen College in Indiana.

A line of people of all ages eagerly wound their way through the lobby of Duke University’s Gross Hall, many of them hoping to get an autograph and a moment to meet a celebrity in the autism community.

The Duke Multi-Modal Evaluation (MME) clinic team was awarded the Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment (START) Network Partner Award in Children’s Services. The award was presented at the 2024 START National Training Institute (SNTI) conference in Philadelphia in May 2024.

A meta-analysis of interventions for autism finds that increasing intervention is not associated with greater improvement in development for young children with autism. JAMA Pediatrics Editor in Chief Dimitri Christakis, MD, and JAMA Pediatrics Associate Editor Alison Galbraith, MD, discuss autism treatments with Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Founding Director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development.

A tablet-based screening tool that analyzes children’s behavior in response to specific video clips shows promise for enhancing early autism screening, according to a study supported in part by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Scientists who study autism in lower-income countries are working to end practices that exploit or ignore collaborators and communities on the ground. Interim Director Lauren Franz, M.B., CH.B. is quoted in the article.

Jane Yang, from Asheville North Carolina, has been a Duke Center for Autism team member since December 2023. Jane received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Afterwards, she continued her education at North Carolina State University where she received a Master’s degree in Physiology. So far, Jane says that her experience here at the center has been very rewarding, and she is happy to have the opportunity to work with a collaborative team in a supportive environment that allows her to make a positive impact on our research participants every day.

Like all children, autistic students benefit from a welcoming school environment. Having classmates who understand autism – especially the sensory and communication differences that can come with autism – can go a long way towards creating a sensory-friendly classroom, reducing bullying, and helping autistic children enjoy school.