Public Health and Autism Science advancing Effectual Strategies across the life course (PHASES)
Overview
What is the Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) program?
The ACE program supports large-scale studies to better understand diagnosis, causes of, and interventions for autism. The National Institutes of Health first awarded ACE grants in 2007, and holds a new competition every five years.
Who are the recipients?
In 2022, the National Institutes of Health awarded a total of $100 million over five years to support ten Autism Centers of Excellence (ACEs), including Drexel University's A. J. Drexel Autism Institute. The PHASES study, funded by this program, is led by Diana Robins, PhD, professor and director of the Autism Institute, and Diana Schendel, PhD, professor and leader of the Modifiable Factors in Autism Epidemiology research program in the Autism Institute.
What is the main focus of the research?
PHASES uses a public health research framework to examine health determinants, health services delivery, variability in health outcomes, and factors that affect the health of autistic individuals. The project focuses on three key stages of the life course: early detection and diagnosis in toddlers, led by Robins; patterns of co-occurring health conditions and health services use in adolescence and young adulthood, led by Schendel; and mental and physical health in older adulthood, led by Lindsay Shea, DrPH, who directs the Policy, Analytics, and Community research program at the Autism Institute.
"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of A.J. Drexel Autism Institute as the nation's first autism spectrum disorder research center to apply a public health lens toward understanding the causes of autism and its associated challenges... I can think of no greater validation or accelerant of the Autism Institute's pioneering research than to receive this major award from the National Institutes of Health."
Drexel University President John Fry
Autism & Adulthood Seminar Series
The Autism and Adulthood Seminar Series is an initiative that brings together researchers, clinicians, self-advocates, and community partners to examine key topics related to autistic adulthood and aging. The series focuses on translating current research into practice while incorporating lived experience, with discussions spanning areas such as work inclusion, health status, dementia, and profound autism, as well as broader themes of service access and quality of life.
Seminar Recordings
How to Better Support Autistic Adults
Cognitive, Health and Social Experiences of Autism People in Midlife and Old Age
Building Inclusive Workplaces: Accommodations for Autistic Employees
Individualizing Care: Intervention Approaches for Autistic Adults
Healthcare Access Barriers for Autistic Adults
Autism & Adulthood Seminar Series Overview Flyer
Additional Seminar Topics (No Recording Available)
- Aging Well and Autism
- Autism and Adulthood: Comorbidities, Sleep, and Health Outcomes
- Cultural Considerations in Autism Assessment
Data Core Seminar Series
The PHASES Data Core Seminar Series will present ongoing topics of interest for the Drexel University community focused on innovative uses of data and growing infrastructure and connections for big data initiatives.
Seminar History & Schedule
- Big Data Opportunities at Drexel University — November 1, 2023 (No recording)
- You Have Healthcare Data, Now What? — May 28, 2024
- Using Spatial Data to Enrich Public Health Research — May 19, 2025
- Spatial Linkages in Research — October 21, 2025
- Data and Dialogue Virtual Talks — June 16, 2026 (No recording)
You Have Healthcare Data, Now What? (May 28, 2024)
Using Spatial Data to Enrich Public Health Research (May 19, 2025)
Spatial Linkages in Research (October 21, 2025)
Preparing Your Data for Spatial Linkages in Research With Secondary Health Data Sources Flyer
Autism Public Health Lecture
Autism Public Health Lecture 2026
Autism Public Health Lecture 2024
2025 Lecture: Autism: The Way I See It — Temple Grandin, PhD
PHASES Trainees
- Autumn Austin, 2022-present, PhD Student, Discipline: Clinical Psychology
- Hannah Register, 2024-present, PhD Student, Discipline: Clinical Psychology
- Justin Yu, 2024-present, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline: Epidemiology
- Sophie Mueller, PhD Student, Discipline: Psychology
- Claire Klein, PhD Student, Discipline: Psychology
- Seo Young Lee, Postdoctoral Fellow, UX Design & Informatics
- Asa Ohalete, Post Graduate Student
- Olivia McMullen, Post Graduate Student
- Megan Bragg, 2022-2024, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline: Epidemiology
- Marissa Patti, 2022-2024, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline: Epidemiology
- Philip Smith, 2022-2024, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline: Epidemiology
- Tamara Garfield, 2022-2023, PhD Student, Discipline: Public Health
- Meghan Carey, 2022-2024, PhD Student, Discipline: Epidemiology
- Kylie McLean, 2023-present, Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline: Social Work
Summer Scholars
Aïssata Koné is a rising Senior at Dickinson College majoring in Psychology and French and Francophone studies with a minor in Africana Studies.
Alex Steffon is a rising Junior at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Bloomsburg majoring in Psychology.
Melek Ercan is a student at Community College of Philadelphia studying Biology.
Jenna Ahmed is a recent graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Biology.
Alejandro Amador Deulofeu is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania.
Sydney (Syd) Defreitas is a senior Psychology Major.
Maya Gerlach is a senior at Howard University.
Madeline (Maddie) Ryan is a senior at Penn State University.
Drexel College of Medicine Students
- Tyler Beccari (2022-present)
- Alex Roth (2022-present)
- Christopher Morici (2022-present)
- Chaeyeon Kim (2022-2023)
- Jason Kim (2023-present)
- June Hoang (2023-2024)
- Jaclyn Lo (2023-2024)
- Samuel Kou (2023-2024)
PHASES Community Advisory Board Members
Andrea Wieckowski, Anisha Srinivasan, Asa Ohalete, Ashley Miller, Autumn Austin, Chele Abraham-Montgomery, Dan Vader, Diana Robins, Diana Schendel, Elizabeth McGhee-Hassrick, Fahtima Ali, Gail Ciervo Szigeti, Giacomo Vivanti, Jen Plumb, Justin Yu, Karen Lindgren, Kimberly (Kim) Young, Lenora Osborne, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Olivia McMullen, Patrick (Pat) Crowthers, Phil Smith, Pricila Mullachery, Rachel Vecchione, Sarah Dufek, and Zach Inkeles.