2025 Keynote Speakers
Carla Mazefsky, PhD
Keynote: “Emotion Dysregulation in Autism – What Have We Learned and How Can We Help?”
Breakout Session: “Mental health issues in adults”
Dr. Mazefsky conducts research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), investigating mechanisms, correlates, assessment, and treatment for this disorder. She is known as one of the few investigators who has studied the full spectrum of severity in autism. Dr. Mazefsky is regarded by the field as a pioneer of and the foremost expert in emotion regulation in ASD, which was previously understudied in autism research. She is one of the creators of the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI), the first measure developed and validated for autism following the scientific standards developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System initiative.
Giacomo Vivanti, PhD
Keynote: “Autism and interventions – which factors shape outcomes?”
Breakout Session: “Understanding and reconciling conflicting narratives in autism intervention”
Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA, where he leads the Early Detection and Intervention program.
His research focuses on services and supports for children on the autism spectrum, with a focus on factors that shape outcomes in early childhood and across the life span.
Dr Vivanti is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and the author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles in the field of autism and developmental disorders.
Jeff Wood, PhD
Keynote: “Cognitive-behavioral interventions for children and youth on the autism spectrum”
Breakout Session: “In depth discussion of cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic individuals”
Professor Wood received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the UCLA Psychology Department, specializing in clinical trials of cognitive behavioral therapy for childhood anxiety disorders and OCD. As a doctoral student of Dr. Marian Sigman’s and a psychology intern at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, he acquired expertise in the assessment and behavioral treatment of school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders.
Stanford Speakers
Emma Baker, MPsych(Clin), PhD
Session: "Sleep and autism: A Stanford update"
Dr. Baker obtained a Bachelor of Psychological Science and Ph.D. from La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) where she studied sleep and circadian dysregulation in autistic adults. Dr. Baker also obtained a Master of Clinical Psychology from Swinburne University (Melbourne, Australia). Her primary research interests are to understand the clinical phenotypes of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, including those with a known genetic cause, particularly the co-occurring conditions experienced by these individuals (e.g., sleep problems and anxiety). Dr. Baker is currently supporting research into sleep disruption and its treatment in autistic children within the Stanford Center for Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ingrid Lin, MD
Session: “Navigating New Horizons: Supporting Families Through Autism Transitions”
Dr. Lin brings over 18 years of experience in California’s Regional Center system, where she served as the Director of Clinical Services at the Golden Gate Regional Center for 11 years. Motivated by a deep commitment to improving care for children with developmental disorders, she is currently completing a three-year fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at Stanford to help bridge the critical gap between community services and academic research. Dr. Lin's primary research focus centers on creating a holistic, integrated system of care for children with developmental disorders.
Emily Spackman, PhD
Session: "Understanding individual differences in restricted and repetitive behaviors"
Dr. Spackman obtained a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and PhD from the University of Melbourne, Australia where she studied restricted and repetitive behaviours in autistic children and adolescents. Her research efforts focus on understanding how these behaviours vary across individuals and contexts, with the goals of improving assessment and working towards the development of more personalised clinical support. Dr. Spackman is currently supporting further development of the Dimensional Assessment of Repetitive Behaviours (DARB) instrument.
Kaustubh Supekar, PhD
Session: "AI-derived brain fingerprints of childhood autism"
Kaustubh Supekar is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He received his PhD from Stanford and also completed postdoctoral training at Stanford. Dr. Supekar oversees a neuroscience-informed clinical research program, which focuses on determining aberrations in structural and functional organization and the development of the human brain that give rise to atypical behavior and cognition in psychiatric disorders, by combining cutting-edge computational methods, including artificial intelligence (AI), with multimodal neuroimaging, molecular, and phenotypic data. A major focus of his research is also developing brain-based biomarkers for early, accurate psychiatric diagnoses and creating more effective targeted interventions to address their neurobiological causes. Among other honors, Dr. Supekar has received the Tad Taube Family Foundation Endowed Transdisciplinary Investigator award for Maternal Child Health, the Stanford Psychiatry Innovator award, the Chairman's Advancing Science Award, recognition for one of the Top 100 Scientific Discoveries of the Year, the Kathryn Grupe Award for Excellence in Research, and the NARSAD Young Investigator award.
Agenda
8:15am Check in, morning refreshments, research/community tables open
9:00-9:15am
Welcome: Antonio Hardan, MD, Director, Stanford Autism Center & Leslie Stafford, President, Stanford Autism Center Parent Advisory Board
9:15-10:15am
“Autism and interventions – which factors shape outcomes?”, Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, Associate Professor, AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University
10:15-10:30am Break
10:30-12:00pm
New Trends in Autism Research at Stanford (additonal speakers to be announced)
Brief presentations (including Q & A) from Stanford researchers: 20 min each
- "Sleep and autism: A Stanford update," Emma Baker, MPsych (Clin), PhD
- “Navigating new horizons: Supporting families through autism transitions,” Ingrid Lin, MD
- "Understanding individual differences in restricted and repetitive behaviors," Emily Spackman, PhD
- " AI-derived brain fingerprints of childhood autism," Kaustubh Supekar, PhD
12:00- 1:00pm Lunch, tables open
1:00- 1:15pm
Stanford Autism Center Parent Advisory Board Award - Presented by Lara Sandora
1:15-2:00pm
“Cognitive-behavioral interventions for children and youth on the autism spectrum” Jeff Wood, PhD, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
2:00-2:45pm
“Emotion Dysregulation in Autism – What Have We Learned and How Can We Help?” Carla Mazefsky, PhD, Professor, University of Pittsburgh
2:45-3:00pm Break
3:00-4:30pm Breakout sessions~ Participants choose one to attend
Session 1 : “Understanding and reconciling conflicting narratives in autism intervention”, Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, Associate Professor, AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University
Session 2 : “In depth discussion of cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic individuals”, Jeff Wood, PhD, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
Session 3 : “Mental health issues in adults”, Carla Mazefsky, PhD, Professor, University of Pittsburgh
Spanish interpretation by Lily Quinonez
Agenda Español
8:15 am
Registro, refrescos de la mañana, mesas de investigación y de la comunidad abiertas
9:00-9:15am
Bienvenida: Antonio Hardan, MD, Director, Centro de Autismo de Stanford & miembro de la Junta Asesora de Padres del Centro de Autismo de Stanford
9:15-10:15am
“Autismo e intervenciones – que factores moldean los resultados?”, Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, Profesor Asociado, AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Universidad de Drexel
10:15-10:30am Descanso
10:30-12:00pm
Nuevas tendencias en la investigación de Autismo en Stanford (otros presentadores serán anunciados). Presentaciones breves (incluyendo preguntas y respuestas) de investigadores de Stanford: 15 minutos cada una.
- “Sueño y Autismo: Una actualización de Stanford, ” Emma Baker, MPsych(Clin), PhD
- “Navegando nuevos horizontes: apoyando familias en las transiciones del autismo, ” Ingrid Lin, MD
- "Entendiendo diferencias individuales en comportamientos estereotipados y repetitivos, ”Emily Spackman, PhD
- “Huellas cerebrales del autismo derivadas de IA, ” Kaustubh Supekar, PhD
12:00- 1:00pm Almuerzo, mesas abiertas
1:00- 1:15pm
Premio de parte de la Junta Asesora de Padres del Centro de Autismo de Stanford
1:15-2:00pm
“Intervenciones cognitivo-conductuales para niños y jóvenes del espectro autista” Jeff Wood, PhD, Profesor, Universidad de California, Los Angeles
2:00-2:45pm
“Desregulación emocional en el autismo – Que hemos aprendido y cómo podemos ayudar?” Carla Mazefsky, PhD, Profesora, Universidad de Pittsburgh
2:45-3:00pm Descanso
3:00-4:30pm Sesión de Trabajo~ Participantes elijen asistir a una sesión
Session 1 : “Comprendiendo y reconciliando narrativas conflictivas en la intervencion del autismo”, Giacomo Vivanti, PhD, Profesor Asociado, AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Universidad de Drexel
Session 2 : “ Discusión en profundidad sobre la terapia cognitiva conductual para individuos autistas”, Jeff Wood, PhD, Profesor, Universidad de California, Los Angeles
Session 3 :
“Problemas de Salud Mental en Adultos”, Carla Mazefsky, PhD, Professor, Universidad de Pittsburgh
Interpretación al español por Lily Quinonez
