Dr. Susan Faja was named Biomarker Research Principal Investigator for the Innovative Medicine and Precision Approaches to Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Network, an international initiative funded through Aligning Research to Impact Autism (ARIA). Dr. Faja will lead efforts to collect and analyze biomarker and behavioral measures to advance precision approaches to autism research and treatment development.
2026
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Boston Children's joins landmark initiative to advance autism therapies
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What the Arctic Can Teach About Autism
Graduate student Anne-Michelle Engelstad was featured in The Harvard Gazette for research examining how Arctic communities support children with developmental differences, including autism. Her work highlights Inuit perspectives on child development and emphasizes strengths-based approaches that value each child’s unique abilities and contributions.
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Susan Faja Discusses Autism Research with Spanish-Speaking Families
Dr. Susan Faja was interviewed by Abriendo Posibilidades in Mexico City to share autism research with Spanish-speaking families, promote autism acceptance, and explore opportunities for community connection. The interview highlighted evidence-based information about autism, early identification, and support for autistic individuals and their families.
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Minibrains Reveal Personalized Paths for Rett Syndrome
Dr. Charles Nelson collaborated on a study demonstrating that different MECP2 mutations associated with Rett syndrome produce distinct patterns of brain network development and may require different therapeutic approaches. EEG data collected by Dr. Nelson and colleagues helped validate findings from patient-derived brain organoids, supporting the potential for precision medicine in Rett syndrome.
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Study links parents’ perceived financial strain to delayed brain development in infants
Dr. Carol Wilkinson and Dr. Haerin Chung co-led a Baby Steps study demonstrating that perceived household income insufficiency was associated with slower indicators of brain development during infancy. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how financial hardship and related psychosocial stressors may influence early neurodevelopment.
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Fragile X study uncovers brain wave biomarker bridging humans and mice
An MIT News article highlighted research identifying a brain wave biomarker in fragile X syndrome that is shared between humans and mice, providing a promising tool for translational treatment studies. LCN researchers Dr. Carol Wilkinson and Michael Khela were among the collaborators contributing data and expertise to the study.
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Poverty Shapes Children’s Brains but Not Their Destiny: Findings from a Decade of Brain Research in Bangladesh
Over the course of ten years, the BEAN team tracked more than 400 Bangladeshi children from infancy through adolescence across different socioeconomic backgrounds, using advanced brain imaging, cognitive assessments, blood biomarkers, and detailed measures of environmental conditions, including lead exposure, to understand why children born in adversity show cognitive and behavioral difficulties.
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Genetic testing could be helpful in Pediatric ADHD
Psychiatric Times interviewed Dr. Ryan Doan, PhD, FACMG, on a joint Doan/Arnett lab scientific poster presented at American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) 2026 Annual Conference.
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Money stress may slow early brain development in babies
Earth.com quotes Dr. Haerin Chung, PhD, and Dr. Carol Wilkinson, MD, PhD, using findings from their recently published Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) article Income insufficiency impacts early brain development in infants facing increased psychosocial adversity: A network-based approach.
2025
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Listen to Dr. Susan Faja on This Old House Radio Hour!
Dr. Faja was featured on This Old House Radio Hour to discuss practical design tips for supporting neurodivergence at home.
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Dr. Anne Arnett interviewed about the Genetics of ADHD!
Dr. Arnett spoke with Rae Jacobson from the Hyperfocus podcast about the genetics of ADHD, the latest research for ADHD, the importance of early detection, and Dr. Arnett's research directions.
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Expert Weighs in on Trump Acetaminophen-Autism link
On September 22, 2025, the day the White House released a report claiming a link between autism and Acetaminophen use in pregnancy, Dr. Nelson joined Fox News Andy Mac's LiveNOW segment to clarify the correlation.
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Dr. Susan Faja explains Executive Function differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder
On Season 7 Episode 3 of the Reid Connect Podcast, Dr. Faja speaks on executive function and how to support those with executive function challenges on the autism spectrum, as well as her recent research findings.
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Dr. Charles Nelson interviewed on brain development for From Birth to Bloom podcast
On Dr. Michelle Shah's podcast From Birth to Bloom, Dr. Nelson discusses brain development, the effects of stress on early development, and key signs of neurodiversity including early indicators of autism.
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What research reveals about the rise in autism diagnoses and why vaccines aren't the cause
The CDC released a report on April 15, 2025 about rates of autism in the United States. Hear from experts on PBS News Hour such as Dr. Nelson and other scientists and health professionals about the realities of autism rates.