Autism: Referral Directory

Research

Our center is dedicated to research that supports the diagnosis, treatment, and identification of possible causes and cures for autism spectrum disorders.

Clinical

The Social Cognition Project at UT Dallas Center for Brain Health is a 12-week virtual technology intervention for social deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders, utilizing pre- and post-cognitive/behavioral testing and fMRI.

The Preverbal Communication Project at UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders focuses on the acquisition of early communication skills in children with severe developmental and communicative impairments.

Pre-Clinical

Kimberly M. Huber, PhD
Department of Neuroscience

UT Southwestern, and Jay Gibson, PhD, Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Exploration of how alterations in synaptic function and connectivity lead to mental retardation and autism, specifically how RNA binding proteins, such as FMRP, regulate dendritic protein synthesis and, in turn, synapse function.

Ege T. Kavalali PhD,
Department of Neuroscience

UT Southwestern Physiological properties of central pre-synaptic terminals, specifically using electrical and optical recording techniques to investigate the mechanisms that govern synaptic vesicle recycling.

Lisa Monteggia, PhD
Department of Psychiatry

UT Southwestern Molecular and cellular basis of neural plasticity as it pertains to psychiatric disorders, specifically the role of the Methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP2) in the pervasive developmental disorder, Rett Syndrome. Findings suggest that Mutations in the MeCP2 gene are also found in approximately 10% of people with Autism, and generated conditional MeCP2 mice recapitulate many aspects of Rett Syndrome including increased anxiety and motor impairments.

Craig M. Powell, MD, PhD
Departments of Neurology & Psychiatry

UT Southwestern Neuroligins in cognitive function and genetic models of Autism in mice, specifically the characterization of neuroligin knockout mice as a potential animal model of X-linked mental retardation with and without autistic features.

Luis F. Parada, PhD
Department of Developmental Biology

UT Southwestern Pten gene regulation of neuronal arborization and social interaction deficits in mice.

Juan M Pascual, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology

UT Southwestern Genetic and molecular basis of neurological and neuromuscular diseases of infancy and childhood, specifically as related to neural excitability and brain metabolism.