Medical and Science Advisory Committee

Members of the Autism Speaks Medical and Science Advisory Committee’s expertise spans the field’s broad range of research. Their work includes advances in behavioral interventions, medicine development, the treatment of autism-related health conditions, and the genetic and environmental factors that influence autism.

The committee plays a pivotal role in reviewing research proposals and providing guidance to further Autism Speaks’ mission to be a catalyst for life-enhancing research breakthroughs by advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.

Committee Chair

Daniele Fallin, Ph.D., James W. Curran dean of public health, Rollins School of Public Health

Committee Members

Brett Abrahams, Ph.D., founder and president of Heppinn Biosciences and advisory board member for CureShank, the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) and Accelerator Life Science Partners

Brian Boyd, Ph.D., William C. Friday distinguished professor in education in the School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Joseph Buxbaum, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and genomic sciences, and director of the Seaver Autism Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Mayada Elsabbagh, Ph.D., professor of neurology and neurosurgery at The Neuro of McGill University and research scientist at the McGill University Health Center

Stelios Georgiades, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and co-director of the McMaster Autism Research Team, McMaster University

Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, MB.Ch.B, MMed, Ph.D., senior lecturer and paediatric neurologist in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda

Connie Kasari, Ph.D., professor of human development and psychology in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies and the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute, University of California, Los Angeles

Catherine Lord, Ph.D., George Tarjan distinguished professor of psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA

Vikram Patel, Ph.D., M.B.B.S., Pershing Square professor of global health and Wellcome Trust principal research fellow, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School; professor in the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health; co-founder and member of Managing Committee, Sangath

Stuart Savitz, founder of the Law Offices of Stuart M. Savitz LLC

Russell Shilling, Ph.D., former chief scientific officer of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Stephen Shore, Ed.D., clinical assistant professor at the Amman School of Education, Adelphi University