Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program

Welcome to the website of the Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program (ADDRP), Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University.  This Stanford autism research program is based in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

ADDRP focuses on improving the quality of life of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and/or intellectual disabilities. Through research methods that range from clinical trials, neuroimaging investigations, behavioral analysis to basic science methods, the researchers at ADDRP are committed to developing effective treatment strategies and identifying the causes of these conditions.

Our main research aim is to better understand the basic neurobiology of autism and other developmental disorders while furthering our understanding of how genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the onset and progression of these disorders. With this aim in mind, we conduct a variety of research studies and clinical trials of novel behavioral and biological therapies in hopes of developing effective interventions for the treatment of core features of these disorders.

Acknowledgements

The Stanford Autism and Developmental Disorders Research Program would like to thank the children, as well as their parents and families, for contributing to research. The joint effort to better understand and provide therapies for developmental disorders is not possible without their past and continued involvement.

Stanford ADDRP would also like to ackowledge financial support from the following organizations:

In the News

2/2/22 Stanford Team Finds Benefits to Online Autism Treatment

7/16/21 Program improves resilience for parents of kids with autism

8/6/19 Stanford Trial Shows Parents Can Learn Therapy to Help Their Children With Autism Learn to Speak

8/5/19 One therapy bests others at motivating kids with autism to speak

5/1/19 Hormone reduces social impairment in kids with autism

3/6/19  Nature versus nurture in autism

2/2/18: Mechanical forces being studied by Stanford researchers may underlie brain's development and some diseases

7/12/17: Oxytocin improves social abilities in some kids with autism

4/10/17: Autism researchers seek teens, young adults for drug trial

9/21/2016: The seekers: Why parents try fringe therapies for autism

8/16/2016: Automating genetic analysis helps keep up with rapid discovery of new diseases

7/22/2015: Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism

10/27/2014: Group classes teach parents effective autism therapy, study finds

8/4/2014: Blood-oxytocin levels in normal range in children with autism, study finds

11/14/2013: Stanford drug trial seeks participants with autism spectrum disorder

8/13/2012: Stanford researchers investigate the emotional side of autism

5/29/2012: Antioxidant Shows Promise as Treatment for Certain Features of Autism, Study Finds (reprinted in ScienceDaily)

Spring 2012: Autism Answers - Parents run experiments to see what works

9/2/2011: Spotting autism's unique shape in the brain

7/30/2011: Autism Risks: Genes May Not Play Biggest Role

1/25/2010: Stanford/Packard autism researchers seek twins for brain-imaging study  

Related Pages & Events

Upcoming Events

2024 Bay Area Adult Autism/DD Conference

12/7/24 at the Li Ka Shing Conference Center, Stanford, CA. Register here!

16th Annual Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) Conference UPDATE: Conference has been postponed.

SAVE THE DATE! 

The Stanford Neurodiversity Summit

9/22/24-9/24/24 at the Li Ka Shing Conference Center, Stanford, CA

18th Annual Autism Update

3/22/25 at Li Ka Shing Conference Center, Stanford,CA 

Autism Parent Support Group

Meets on second Mondays from 7-8:30pm (Sept.-June).  Please email us to be added to the our to the monthly email with participant zoom information.