Research at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Research at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute (Featuring Exposure Science with Dr. Nathaniel Snyder)

Speaker:
Craig Newschaffer, PhD
Director, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Associate Dean for Research
School of Public Health
Drexel University

Abstract:
Autism is the most common, serious neurodevelopmental condition in the United States, with annual costs estimated to be upwards of $250 billion. The A.J. Drexel Autism Institute brings a public health science approach to autism research by focusing on projects intended to identify potentially modifiable causes, improve early detection and intervention approaches, and reveal system strategies that will better support individuals with autism over the life course.

Dr. Newschaffer will provide an overview of the research programs at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, highlighting areas of potential interest to Biomed students and faculty. He will then discus the projects and resources of the Modifiable Risk Factors program in more detail before turning the podium over to Dr. Nathaniel Snyder, who will give a brief overview of his work in metabolomics, exposure science, and neurodevelopment.

Biosketch:
Craig Newschaffer, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Associate Dean for Research at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health in Philadelphia. Dr. Newschaffer is also the founding director of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. The Institute is the first autism research center with its focus on public health science, housing research programs in modifiable autism risk factors, early detection and intervention, and life course outcomes. Over his career, Dr. Newschaffer, a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, has been principal investigator on many federally funded autism epidemiology initiatives, including an NIH Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) focused on prenatal autism risk factors.

Dr. Newschaffer has served on the US DOD Autism Research Program Integration Panel, the Autism Speaks Science Advisory Board, and, on multiple occasions, the US federal government’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Strategic Plan for Autism Research expert review group. He was past Vice President of the International Society for Autism Research and is currently Associate Editor of the journal Autism Research.

Contact Information

Ken Barbee
215-895-1335
barbee@drexel.edu