Research and Training
Research is essential for improving our understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and for developing innovative and more effective treatment approaches to improve the lives of patients and their families. Toward that goal, the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB) offers clinical research opportunities.
As a leader in the assessment and treatment of ASD, CADB also recognizes the need to teach, train, and assist other professionals in order to build capacity in the community and beyond. To accomplish this, CADB offers a variety of training opportunities to clinicians and researchers, both at the junior and senior levels.
Clinical Trials for Autism
Participation in research studies and volunteer opportunities at CADB help advance our understanding of autism, may lead to better treatments, and enhance education. Patients with ASD and their families may be able to participate in clinical trials assessing new diagnostic and treatment approaches. In return, by participating in clinical research, you can receive high-quality assessments and intervention services at no cost, and sometimes with compensation. Many of our research participants include families with young children who help us refine diagnostic assessments. In doing so, they receive some of the world's best autism care, free of charge. Learn more about current clinical trials.
Autism research in the lab
Stephen M. Kanne, PhD engages in research exploring phenotypic profiles of individuals with autism and creating new measures to assess ASD strengths and challenges.
So Hyun (Sophy) Kim, PhD, leads clinical research at Weill Cornell Medicine examining developmental and behavioral patterns in children with ASD while combining behavioral and electrophysiological measures.
Jeremy M Veenstra-Vanderweele, MD, directs a lab at Columbia University dedicated to helping children with ASD or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and their families using a variety of techniques.
Our investigators also collaborate with researchers studying the genetic and neuroscientific aspects of ASD, environmental influences, and brain imaging studies of neural circuits that change with ASD therapy. Both Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medicine feature strong epidemiology and molecular biology research programs.
Research Core
The Research Core is an infrastructure for researchers to recruit patients from the CADB clinic for clinical trials and creating a data management system to collect and analyze research data. The Research Core Team can provide support to researchers for recruitment, IRB program management, and data collection.
Training Programs
CADB offers instruction in the use of specific diagnostic instruments. Learn more about CADB autism training programs. CADB also offers workshops for diagnostic training:
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2)
- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
- Global Autism Interactive Network (GAIN)
Clinical and research post-doctoral fellowships as well as pre-doctoral internships and externships are also available.
- Post-doctoral fellowships. As a center with a focus on integrating autism research and practice, post-doctoral fellows in CADB refine diagnostic skills, lead social skills groups, provide intervention services to patients and families, consult with schools and community programs, and gain valuable research experience. These fellowships are typically offered for one year, with a possible renewal into a second year.
- Pre-doctoral opportunities. CADB is part of the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center APA-accredited internship program in professional psychology, which takes place at the Manhattan campus of Weill Cornell Medicine. Externs work approximately half-time, without funding, and learn to use diagnostic instruments and implement evidence-based interventions. Externs and clinical interns may also be involved in clinical research.
Why Choose Us
CADB not only includes leaders in patient and family care, but also pioneering investigators developing new diagnostic instruments and treatment outcome measures to enhance clinical care and move the field forward. We are also committed to instructing the leaders of tomorrow through our competitive training programs. This is a hallmark of the high level of care found only at academic medical centers such as NewYork-Presbyterian.
Contact us
NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center
Center for Autism & the Developing Brain