Research teams in the Division of Developmental Medicine are investigating a wide array of questions about everything from infant memory development, to autism and down syndrome, and beyond. Read on for more information about individual programs.
The Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience
The Boston Children's Hospital Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience (LCN), under the direction of Charles A. Nelson, PhD, hold a unique position at the intersection of development, brain and behavior. Under the broad Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience umbrella, our research mission is to advance the understanding of both typical and atypical development and inform the development of new and effective interventions.
Our multidisciplinary team of researchers brings together experts from a wide range of fields, including neuroscience, psychology, and education. In collaboration with clinical experts in fields such as developmental pediatrics and child neurology, we are working to expand our knowledge of child development and developmental disorders through cutting edge cognitive neuroscience research.
Our research investigates development from infancy to early adulthood, including the impact of environmental factors such as early adversity and stress on cognitive development, as well as growing research programs in autism, ADHD and rare genetic disorders. Through this collaborative and comprehensive approach, we aim to drive the science forward as rapidly as possible, so that we can translate what we learn into earlier identification, improved therapies, and better outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders.
The Developmental Medicine Clinical Research Laboratories
The Developmental Medicine Clinical Research Laboratories (DM-CRL) aim to improve the lives of children with neurodevelopmental and behavioral challenges. As part of the Division of Developmental Medicine, we develop innovative approaches to enhance long-term outcomes and help each child reach their full potential. Our research focuses on understanding each child’s unique strengths and needs to create lasting, meaningful benefits for families.
Our non-traditional lab structure serves clinician investigators exploring a range of questions in autism, ADHD, and speech and language development. We provide services to support every stage of clinical research and quality improvement projects and initiatives, to increase research efficiency. Our overall goal to is to drive research forward by streamlining the experience for investigators, their study teams, and participating patients and families.
The Down Syndrome Research Program
The Down Syndrome Program’s research team works hand in hand with their clinical care team in their mission to help all individuals with Down syndrome reach their fullest potential. Their studies aim to shed light on brain and behavior development in individuals with Down syndrome by taking a multidisciplinary approach that considers everything from genetics, to neural pathways, to biomarkers. In particular, they focus on cognition, learning and memory, as well as neurodevelopmental and behavioral impairments that commonly co-occur in individuals with Down syndrome. They are committed to developing valid and reliable diagnostic tools, as well as research aimed at exploring new educational, behavioral, and medical interventions which may improve overall functioning. Through their multi-center and multidisciplinary efforts, they also aim to understand the developmental trajectory and impact of medical issues in individuals with Down syndrome, and to explore potential interventions that may improve mental and physical health.
The Fragile X Research Program
As part of the Fragile X Clinic and Research Consortium (FXCRC), our Fragile X Program works to coordinate research from across the nation and around the world, orchestrating projects that allow them to approach Fragile X from complementary angles. A great deal of this research is going on right here at Boston Children's.