The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment

Our researchers at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment employ a triad of epidemiological techniques—descriptive, analytic, and experimental—to provide reliable information about the prevalence, causes, and outcomes of autism. Since the 1980s, epidemiologists have been tirelessly investigating the possible causes of autism and identifying at-risk populations, with each year bringing new insights and understanding. Genetic epidemiology provides an unbiased approach to understand population-level risk of genetic variation. We have multiple genetic epidemiology studies across large regional and national cohorts.

We are dedicated to tracking and analyzing how autism manifests over the life course, with the goal of reducing the disease burden for individuals with autism and their families. Through rigorous research and collaborative efforts, we explore autism from multiple angles, providing crucial information that shapes our understanding of this complex disorder. Our work spans several critical research areas, including the study of modifiable risk factors, functional epidemiology, life course outcomes, and early brain development.

Researchers are investigating modifiable risk factors through projects in obstetrics, exposure biology, exposomics, and pharmacoepidemiology at the population level, aiming to identify and characterize risk factors and critical periods for autism development. Our functional epidemiology studies focus on understanding how early-life factors contribute to autism risk, potentially improving prevention efforts and treatment development. We are also addressing the urgent need to understand autism across the lifespan, studying co-occurring conditions and how early life exposures shape life course outcomes. Additionally, our multidisciplinary approach to studying early brain development brings together expertise in genetics, brain imaging, computational biology, and epidemiology to unravel the complex etiology of autism. Through these diverse research streams, we strive to advance our understanding of autism and pave the way for improved interventions and outcomes.