In 1998, the NLM Family Foundation began hosting a series of symposia in which invited professionals from various backgrounds and areas of expertise would convene to present their current work or research and discuss novel ideas for the advancement of autism research and treatment. Participating professionals have varied from neuroimaging researchers, neurologists, and pediatricians to special educators, psychiatrists, and speech and language pathologists.
The purpose of these symposia is to develop networks of people who can contribute to achieving the aims of the Foundation. NLM Family Foundation symposia are meant to stimulate the creative exchange of ideas that will enrich the field of autism research, education and service delivery. Importantly, they introduce influential thinkers in a format conducive to the development of productive relationships that will lead to positive changes in the lives of individuals with autism and their families.
The following list details the presentation topics, researchers, and primary focus of past NLM Family Foundation symposia.
Gut Microflora and Autism-December 2007
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
Matthew Anderson, MD, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center
Susan Birren, Ph.D., Brandeis University
Timothy Buie, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Karolinska Institute Microflora Consortium. Novel Molecular
Approach to Screen Human Microflora Comparing Individuals
and Groups
Ingemar Ernberg, Karolinska Institute
Albert Galaburda, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Recent Studies and Perspectives on Gut Microbiology,
Probiotics and Autism
Glenn Gibson, Ph.D., The University of Reading
Perinatal Factors Influencing Brain Development: Implications
for Autism
Rochellys Diaz Heijtz, Ph.D., Karolinska Institute
Martha Herbert, M.D.,
Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Tal Kenet, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Microflora interactions with mammalian host metabolism
Jeremy Nicholson, Ph.D., Imperial College London
Possible Role of Neuropeptides and Neuroimmune Interactions
in Intestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism
Harry Pothoulakis, MD, University of California Los Angeles
Harland Winter, MD, Harvard Medical School
-return to top-
Cancer Biology and Autism-December 2007
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
Matthew Anderson, MD, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center
Molecular Windows into Brain Size and Language Development
Ma tthias Groszer, Ph.D., University of Oxford
Dirk Iglehart, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Tal Kenet, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
A Possible Role for the p53-IGF-1-mTOR Pathways in the
Origins of Autism
Arnold Levine, Ph.D., Institute for Advanced Study
The Microfilament System in Health and Disease
Uno Lindberg, Ph.D., Karolinska Institute
Damon Page, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Richard Sidman, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Role of IGF1 Signaling in Brain Development, Plasticity
and Autism
Mriganka Sur, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Marc Vidal, Ph.D., Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Noncoding RNAs: Possible Involvement in Fragile X Syndrome
and Autism
Claes Wahlstedt, MD, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute
-return to top-
Systems Biology of Autism: Metabolomics-March 2007
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
The Autism Phenome Project
David Amaral, Ph.D., University of California Davis and
The M.I.N.D. Institute
Matthew Anderson, MD, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center
A Combined Multi-Omics and Exploratory Bioinformatics
Approach to Investigate Disease Mechanisms in Complex Neuropsychiatric
Disorders.
Sabine Bahn, MD, Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Susan Birren, Ph.D., Brandeis University
Challenges of Heterogeneity, Co-Morbidity and Non-Specificity
in Autism Research and Treatment
Martha Herbert, M.D.,
Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Tal Kenet, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Putting Genes in their Place
Stuart Newman, Ph.D., New York Medical College
Metabolomics and Top-Down Systems Biology: Practical
21st Century Approaches Attacking Real Human Disease Problems
Jeremy Nicholson, Ph.D., Imperial College London
Istvan Pelczer, Ph.D., Princeton University
Cellular Metabolomics
Josh Rabinowitz, MD, Ph.D., Princeton University
-return to top-
Systems Biology of Autism-November 2006
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
Matthew Anderson, MD, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center
Albert Galaburda, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Information-Weighted LOD Scores in Autism Genomics (with
Andrey Rzhetsky)
T. Conrad Gilliam, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Tal Kenet, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Framing Autism in the Context of Systems Biology
Stanley Nelson, MD, University of California, Los Angeles
Damon Page, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Information-Weighted LOD Scores in Autism Genomics (with T. Conrad Gilliam)
Andrey Rzhetsky, Ph.D., Columbia University
Understanding the Progression of Complex Developmental
Diseases
Marc Vidal, Ph.D., Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Integrating Digital Medical Records into Autism Research
Peter White, Ph.D., The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Heterogeneity of Autism: Lessons from Low Copy Number
Repeat Frequencies
Michael Wigler, Ph.D., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
-return to top-
Housing Options for Adults with Developmental Disabilities-June 2006
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
Ruth Aronson, Brandeis University
Edward Bruckner, Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Keith Duclos, Side By Side Supported Living, Inc.
Steven Eidelman, University of Delaware
Marty Krauss, Ph.D., Brandeis University
Julia Landau, JD, Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Darline Lewis, JD, Goulston & Storrs
Mary Lewis James, University of Michigan
Elizabeth Sternberg, Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Cathy Ficker Terrill, Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities
Nancy Thaler, Northwestern Management Services, Inc.
David Wyzanski, Specialized Housing, Inc.
-return to top-
The Olfactory System and Autism - June 2006
The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, Wellesley, MA
Susan Birren, Ph.D., Brandeis University
Odors and social perception
Richard Doty, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Olfaction and social behavior: a comparative approach
Heather Eisthen, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Ventral Midline Brain Contributions to Human Social Cognition
John Gabrieli, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Olfactory System and Autism: Nidor, ergo sum?
Albert Galaburda, MD, Harvard Medical School
Tal Kenet, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Early Olfactory/Tactile Experience
Michael Leon, Ph.D., University of California Irvine
Damon Page, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Susan Santangelo, Sc.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Luca Turin, Ph.D., Flexitral, Inc.
-return to top-
Gamma Oscillations: Integrative Concepts for Autism Research - December 2005
The Smith Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill , MA
Matt Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Neural Rhythmicity, Serotonin, and Autism
Joshua Fost, Ph.D., Hampshire College
Albert Galaburda, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Connectivity in Context: Physical and Systems Considerations in the Development of Gating, Timing, Asymmetry and Connectivity Challenges in Autism
Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Language & Communication Issues in Autism Research
Michael Merzenich, Ph.D., University of California , San Francisco School of Medicine
Brain Music Therapy
Galina Mindlin, M.D., Ph.D., Columbia University
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Autism: Exploring Brain Connectivity and Modulating Plasticity
Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Gamma Abnormalities in Autism: Implications for Communication and Sensory Integration
Georgina Rippon, Ph.D., Aston University
Through Singing to Speech: Music-Facilitated Language Recovery
Gottfried Schlaug, M.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Barbara Scolnick, M.D., Boston University
Boosting Concept Formation as a Possible Therapy for Autism
Allan Snyder, DSc, Ph.D., University of Sydney
-return to top-
Workshop on Autism Susceptibility Genes – September 2005
Hotel Commonwealth, Boston, MA
A Genetic Study of Mathematical Talent and Asperger’s Syndrome
Simon Baron-Cohen, Ph.D., Cambridge University
Alan Ezekowitz, MBCHB, D. Phil, Massachusetts General Hospital
Al Galaburda, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brian Gilman, Panther Informatics
Genes for Autism and Absolute Pitch
Peter K. Gregersen, M.D., Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore LIJ Health System
Ingrid Holm, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital Boston
Investigation of Imprinted Chromosomal Regions and Mitochondrial Haplotypes in Autism
Lindsey Kent, MBChB., Ph.D., MRC Psych, Cambridge University
Genetics Studies of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Isaac Kohane, MD, Ph.D., Children’s Hospital Boston
A Family Study of Genetic Susceptibility to Autistic Traits
Katherine Lawrence, Ph.D., University College London
Identifying and Understanding the Actions of Autism Susceptibility Genes
Anthony Monaco, MD, Ph.D., Oxford University
Richard S. Nowakowski, Ph.D., UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Damon Page, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Establishment of a Well-Characterized Cohort for Autism Studies at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Susan Santangelo, Sc.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Jim Simons, Ph.D., The Simons Foundation
Marilyn Simons, Ph.D., The Simons Foundation
Richard Smith, The Smith Family Foundation
Katherine Tsatsanis, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Recessive Genes for Autism and Mental Retardation
Chris Walsh, MD, Ph.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
-return to top-
Workshop on Autism Communication Enhancement - July 2005
The Smith Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Cognitive Neural Prosthetics
Richard Andersen, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
The Action of a Greeting Does Not Come Naturally: Autism and the Struggle for Performance
Douglas Biklen, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Shared and Specific Muscle Synergies in Natural Motor Behaviors
Emilio Bizzi, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jamie Burke
Sheree Burke
Facilitated Communication and Eye-Tracking
Andy Grayson, Ph.D., Nottingham Trent University
Al Galaburda, MD, Harvard Medical School
Dasher- Fast, Free, Fun Communication Through an Automated Facilitator
David MacKay, Ph.D., University of Cambridge
-return to top-
Autism as a Movement Disorder - May 2005
Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA
Motor Control and Motor Learning in Vertebrates
Emilio Bizzi , M.D. , Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Movement, Emotion, and Intention
Alan Fogel, Ph.D., University of Utah
Al Galaburda, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Why Can't "Nonverbal" Individuals with Autism Speak?
Morton Ann Gernsbacher, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Ethological Organization of Motor Cortex
Michael Graziano, Ph.D., Princeton University
Martha Herbert M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Is the Tilting Test an indicator of subgroups in autism?
Philip Teitelbaum, Ph.D., and Osnat Teitelbaum, University of Florida
Neural Mechanisms of Voluntary Movement Control in Autism
Tom Zeffiro, M.D., PhD, Georgetown University
-return to top-
White Matter Imaging – October 2004
Boston Copley Marriott, Boston, MA
White matter connectivity studies using MRI
Tom Conturo, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine
Localization of white matter enlargement in autism and its implications
Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
In vivo visualization of neuronal connections in auditory cortex
Dae-Shik Kim, Ph.D., Boston University School of Medicine
Connectivity-based grey matter parcellation: a new approach to understanding normal and pathological brain development
Paul Matthews, M.D., University of Oxford
Functional underconnectivity in autism: Results of fMRI studies
Nancy Minshew, M.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Methodological aspects of fMRI and DTI in autism
Wolfgang Richter, Ph.D., Princeton University
Neural connectivity in DS22q11.2: Implications for cognitive function and autism
Tony Simon, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Brain and behavioral studies of language impairment in autism
Helen Tager-Flusberg, Ph.D., Boston University
-return to top-
Communication Aspects in Autism - March 2004
Boston Copley Marriott, Boston, MA
Low-Level Auditory Processing in Autism
Jose Alcantara, Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Research into the Neurocognitive Aspects of Autism
Matthew Belmonte, Ph.D., University of Cambridge
Research on Motor Issues in Autism Using Feldenkrais Movement Lessons
Alan Fogel, Ph.D., University of Utah , and Sally Young
Facilitated Communication: A Systematic Observational Research Project Using Fine-Grained Video Analysis and Eye Tracking
Andy Grayson, Ph.D., The Open University
Imaging Studies of Auditory Processing
Dae-Shik Kim, Ph.D., Boston University School of Medicine
Mirror Cells in Autism: Insights into Pathophysiology and Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Alvaro Pascual-Leone , M.D. , Ph.D., Harvard University Medical School
Stimulating Social Communication Behaviors in Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Stephen Porges, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
-return to top-
Language and Autism - January 2003
The NLM Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Terrence Deacon, Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley
Albert Galaburda, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Ralph Maurer, M.D., University of Florida College of Medicine
Richard Nowakowski, Ph.D., UM.D.NJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Hugo Theoret, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School
Arthur Wingfield, Ph.D., Brandeis University
-return to top-
Towards a Better Autism Phenotype - December 2002
The NLM Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Neuropathology of Autism
Margaret Bauman, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Genes and Behavior: Genes and Behavior in Congenic Mice
Lorraine Flaherty, Ph.D., Wadsworth Institute
Lateralization and Language Functions in the Brain
Albert Galaburda, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Modifying Genes and CNS Structure
Karl Herrup, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Neurophysiology of the Auditory Cortex in Autistic Children
Katherine Martien, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Phenomic Analysis of the Dentate Gyrus: Exploiting Inbred Strains of Mice to Understand Individual Differences in the Human Brain
Richard Nowakowski, Ph.D., UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
-return to top-
Rewiring the Brain - May 31, 2000
The NLM Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Margaret Bauman, M.D., The Autism Research Foundation, Boston Medical Center
Gene Blatt, PhD, Boston University School of Medicine
Guinevere Eden, PhD, Georgetown University
Lynn Effron, Weizmann Institute of Science
Susan Folstein, M.D. New England Medical Center
Henry Markram, M.D. Weizmann Institute of Science
Tom Zeffiro, M.D., PhD, Georgetown University
-return to top-
Communication Opportunities for Adults with Autism - 1999
The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA
Douglas Biklen, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Janet Caputo, PT, The Institute for the Achievement of Intellectual Excellence
Marilyn Chadwick, MA CCC-SLP, Facilitated Communication Institute, Syracuse University
Shirley Cohen, Ph.D., Hunter College , C.U.N.Y
Rosemary Crossley, Ph.D., DEAL Communication Centre
Anne Donnellan, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Alan Fogel, Ph.D., University of Utah
Sheila Frick, OTR, Therapeutic Resources, Inc.
Debbie Gilmer, M.Ed., University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion
Susan Indressano, Speech Pathologist
Alan Kurtz, M.Ed., University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion
Laura Meyers, Ph.D., University of California- Los Angeles
Donna Ray-Reese, MA, MFT, Reese Movement Institute
Jane Remington-Gurney, MA, LCST, Options Communication Therapy Centre
Sally Young, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
-return to top-
Language, Thought, and Communication - December 21, 1998
The NLM Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Douglas Biklen, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Alfonso Caramazza, Ph.D., Harvard University
Ray Jackendoff, Ph.D., Brandeis University
Francoise Zurif, Educator and Clinician
-return to top-
Communication and Autism – 1998
The NLM Family Foundation, Chestnut Hill, MA
Inger Connery, Benhaven School
Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Larry Wood, Benhaven School
-return to top-
Examining the Potential of MRI for Autism Research - 1997
Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA
Doug Biklen, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Jeffrey Lewine, Ph.D., University of Utah Medical School
Clifford Saper, M.D., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Roberto Tuchman, M.D., Miami Children's Hospital
-return to top-
|
