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Center for Autism Research
Center for Autism Research (CAR) is based at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with research and collaborations spanning CHOP, the University of Pennsylvania, and other academic institutions nationally and internationally. Our three-part mission is to understand the causes of autism, in order to develop effective interventions and supports through research; to serve the needs of autistic individuals and their family members through education and guidance throughout the lifespan; and to train the next generation of master clinicians and scientists in state-of-the-science best practices for autism screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Advances in understanding autism and related disorders are only possible as a direct result of the participation of individuals and families. However, finding study participants is one of the greatest challenges researchers face. Simply put – scientists cannot make real progress without your help. We need you!
Leader
Robert T. Schultz, PhD
Director, Center for Autism Research
Dr. Schultz's research involves using magnetic resonance imaging to understand brain mechanisms and to create biomarkers that predict who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who will develop the disorder, and who will respond well to different interventions. More recently, he has developed a technology and innovation lab to exploit advances in perceptual computing, in order to develop more robust measurements of quantitative traits.
Event
CAR's Next Steps Workshop series for parents and professionals are offered 8 times per year with content tailored to key milestones from early childhood through adulthood.
Education
CAR has a number of educational opportunities for parents/ caregivers, professionals and individuals on the autism spectrum.
Research
As our understanding of autism has evolved, our scientific disciplines have expanded. Our work today can be clustered into nine major areas