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        Autism Research

        Our team is seeking to identify the genetic and neurobiological pathways that may lead to autism. We are collecting data and samples for our large-scale studies, which include a pregnancy study of autism, looking at facial features of children with autism and the Australian Autism Biobank.

        The Autism Research Team investigates the early identification and intervention of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using a wide range of methodologies, including molecular genetics, neuroscience, endocrinology, behavioural experiments and clinical trials.

        The team comprises over 40 researchers from a variety of backgrounds (psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, genetics, education, nursing, neuroscience), and are funded through grants from the NHMRC, ARC, NIH and other competitive research funding bodies. The team collaborates with over 200 researchers from around the world, and is a prominent partner within the Autism Cooperative Research Centre.

        The team is also committed to the translation of scientific knowledge, as demonstrated through our work in scientific communication ('60 Second science' web series, viewed by over 1.5 million people), our leadership on national policy (led the development of the Australian Guideline for ASD Assessment and Diagnosis), and the development of CliniKids (Telethon Kids' new clinical research centre for infants and children with developmental disorders). 

        Our Autism Research Team is focused on conducting research on the most pressing issues facing the Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) community through:

        • Improving lives by discovering acceptable, feasible and effective/efficacious methods for reducing the disability associated with autism.
        • Connecting research outcomes to policy by working with the State and Federal Governments to develop evidence-based policy for individuals with autism.
        • Developing research infrastructure by creating a research base that can be connected to international research efforts.
        • Building a community and developing ways for the autism community to connect in a positive and beneficial way.

        Team Highlights

        • The completion and publication of the first Australian clinical guideline for ASD assessment diagnosis, which was endorsed by the NHMRC council in July 2018.
        • Completion of the Australian Autism Biobank, Australia’s largest repository of biological information collected form children with ASD and their families (>5000 biospecimens). 
        • Establishment of CliniKids, Telethon Kids’ new clinical-research facility for infants and children with developmental disorder.
        • Publication of over 15 peer-reviewed papers;/year, including many in high-ranging journals (e.g., Pediatrics, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Nature Communications).
        Autism and Related Disorders

        Research subsite

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        Team

        Leader

        Andrew Whitehouse

        PhD

        Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research; Head, Autism Research Team

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        Bahareh Afsharnejad
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Gail Alvares
        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Maryam Boutrus
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Dominique Cleary
        Student

        Student

        Emily D'Arcy
        Student PhD Curtin

        Student PhD Curtin

        Amy Deverell
        Family Coordinator

        Family Coordinator

        Alena Dass
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Kendra Dommisse
        Student PhD UWA

        Student PhD UWA

        Kiah Evans
        Program Manager, Policy Research

        Program Manager, Policy Research

        Erica Fay
        Program Manager, Research

        Program Manager, Research

        Georgia Cunningham
        Clinical Lead

        Clinical Lead

        Joanna Granich
        Clinical Trials Coordinator

        Clinical Trials Coordinator

        Claire Hafekost
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Megan Harrap
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Alexis Harun
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Maya Hayden-Evans
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Rebekka Jooste
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Anindita Karajagi
        Student PhD UWA

        Student PhD UWA

        Rebecca Kuzminski
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Jodie Leslie
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Melissa Licari
        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Antonina Loncarevic
        Student PhD UWA

        Student PhD UWA

        Emma Moon
        Administrative Officer

        Administrative Officer

        Brooke Peden
        Data Entry Assistant

        Data Entry Assistant

        Sarah Pillar
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Kate Sorensen
        Family Coordinator

        Family Coordinator

        Angela Stojanoska
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Diana Tan
        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Julia Tang
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Rebecca Thorpe
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Gemma Upson
        Clinical Services Manager

        Clinical Services Manager

        Kandice Varcin
        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Postdoctoral Research Fellow

        Kerry Wallace
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Abby Chee
        Clinical Psychologist

        Clinical Psychologist

        Alena Clark (Dass)
        Project Coodinator

        Project Coodinator

        Alicia Lant
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Angela Bunney
        Research Child Health Nurse

        Research Child Health Nurse

        Angela Chamberlain
        Post Doc Research Fellow

        Post Doc Research Fellow

        Angela Stojanoska
        Student

        Student

        Aria May
        Speech Pathologist

        Speech Pathologist

        Jack Brett
        Volunteer

        Volunteer

        Katia Haines
        Clinical Services Manager

        Clinical Services Manager

        Lindy Henry
        Research Child Health Nurse

        Research Child Health Nurse

        Lisa Matys
        Speech Therapist

        Speech Therapist

        Marie Rodatz
        Occupational Therapist

        Occupational Therapist

        Michelle Renton
        Research Therapist

        Research Therapist

        Regina Ledo
        Psychologist

        Psychologist

        Samantha Rivers
        Research Assistant

        Research Assistant

        Tracy Storen
        Receptionist

        Receptionist

        Related teams

        Autism Research projects

        National Guideline for Autism Diagnosis in Australia

        Learn more

        Australian Infant Communication and Engagement Study (AICES)

        Learn more
        Other projects

        Autism research videos

        video: autism researcher

        Meet Andrew Whitehouse

        Meet Andrew Whitehouse

        Andrew and his team are working on identifying autism as early as possible to improve outcomes for kids and make their futures as bright as possible.

        video: living with childhood autism

        Meet Elise

        What would you discover to help a child? Meet Elise

        Elise's mum noticed something wasn't right when there was lack of eye contact from Elise and she was lining up toys pedantically. Despite all the tears and hard days, Elise is the light of her mum's life.

        Video: Living with childhood autism

        Meet Miles

        What would you discover to help a child? Meet Miles

        His parents say they knew things were different with Miles, in the way he sees the world and copes with it. While Miles has difficult days, their hope for him is that he's a happy kid.

        video

        Vaccination and autism

        Vaccination and autism

        Professor Andrew Whitehouse talks about a recent scientific paper looking at vaccination and autism.

        video

        Autism on 7 News

        Autism on 7 News

        Our Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis is a guest reporter for 7 News in this video. The story features our Autism research team, which is developing an app that will help kids with autism develop social skills.

        video

        Autism on 7 News

        Autism on 7 News

        Our Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis is a guest reporter on Channel 7 News in the lead-up to Telethon 2014.

        Reports and Findings

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        June 2019

        Reduced heart rate variability in adults with autism spectrum disorder

        Our data suggest an overall dysregulation in resting autonomic activity in adults with autism spectrum disorder

        Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research
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        May 2019

        Developmental vitamin D deficiency produces behavioral phenotypes of relevance to Autism in an animal model

        Here we investigate these features in an animal model related to autism spectrum disorder - the DVD-deficient rat

        Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research
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        March 2019

        The Brain Basis of Comorbidity in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

        This review discusses early brain development and the etiological factors that may give rise to atypical developmental trajectories, along with neuroimaging insights

        Published research Child Disability Autism Research Youth Mental Health
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        January 2019

        Characterizing the interplay between autism spectrum disorder and comorbid medical conditions: An integrative review

        We review medical conditions that have been repeatedly highlighted as sharing the strongest associations with ASD-epilepsy, sleep, as well as gastrointestinal and immune functioning

        Autism Spectrum Disorders Published research Autism Research
        Read more