June 1, 2007

Expert broadens the perspective on two of the biggest concerns in autism science

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — The UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute will host lectures by Tony Charman, professor of neurodevelopmental disorders at University College London, on Wednesday, June 13, at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, 2825 50th St., Sacramento. Charman will speak twice — at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. — on subtype and prevalence studies in the United Kingdom and what the outcomes of these studies mean for the worldwide community of autism scientists and service providers.

During a 4 p.m. academic presentation — “Looking for Subgroups Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders” — Charman will discuss ongoing efforts in the United Kingdom to identify meaningful subgroups of individuals with autism. The fact that autism is not a unitary disorder presents a significant challenge to researchers trying to identify causes and cures. Drawing on data from a population-representative sample of children with autism in the United Kingdom, Charman will address whether suggested subtypes based on behavioral, cognitive and biological features hold up to scrutiny and the implications for future epidemiological studies.

At a 6 p.m. community-interest lecture on “The Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Chapman will review recent evidence that the prevalence of autism and related disorders is as high as 1 percent. He will also discuss whether or not this is a “true” increase and outline what prevalence figures mean for those who provide educational and other services to children with autism and their families.

In addition to his post at University College London, Charman is an honorary clinical psychologist at Great Ormond Hospital for Children NHS Trust where he provides diagnostic services for children with complex neurodevelopmental conditions. His primary research interest is the social cognitive development of children with autism and its applications to diagnostic screening and early interventions. Charman has served on numerous expert panels for the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom and the National Institutes of Health in the United States.

Charman is the ninth and final speaker in the M.I.N.D. Institute's 2006-07 series. Information about the 2007-08 Distinguished Lecturer Series, which begins October 10, will be available later this summer.

For more information about this and future lectures, visit the M.I.N.D. Institute Web site at  www.mindinstitute.org or call (916) 703-0280. Many previous distinguished lectures are available for viewing on the Web site by clicking the “M.I.N.D. videos” link.

The UC Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research into the causes and treatments of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, fragile X syndrome, Tourette's syndrome and learning disabilities.