Overview
Type: Vanderbilt Initiative Award (ViA)
The steep rise in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has focused growing attention on this group of individuals at local, state and federal levels, as well as in policy, legislative and funding initiatives. Despite this concern there remains a dearth of services, studies and treatments for adults with ASD. This trans-institutional program (TIP) is in the process of creating a new interdisciplinary collaboration of Vanderbilt faculty to assess, understand and optimize health and well-being for adults with ASD. This TIP weaves together the strengths of core faculty in three Vanderbilt schools and colleges (Medicine, Peabody, Arts and Sciences) and serves as a springboard for a new autism research and educational program focused on health and well-being in adults with ASD, a population currently underserved. The existence of such a trans-institutional program will position Vanderbilt to successfully compete for grant funding in an emerging area of research that encompasses health services and clinical trials. This project will foster the development of innovative educational programs for Vanderbilt students across all disciplines that will serve as models for other institutions worldwide.
Faculty Participants
Lead Faculty in bold
School of Medicine (Clinical)
- Beth Malow, Professor of Neurology
- Katherine Gotham, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Linda Manning, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Tyler Reimschisel, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology
- Kevin Sanders, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
- Julie Lounds, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Special Education
College of Arts & Science
- Vanessa Beasley, Associate Professor and Dean of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons
- Elisabeth Sandberg, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Peabody College
- Erik Carter, Professor of Special Education