NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that
profoundly affects the lives of thousands of children and adults and
their families. Susan Folstein, a distinguished psychiatrist and
geneticist known for her research on autism, will speak at the
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development on
Thursday, March 31, at 4 p.m.
Folstein, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine, was instrumental in launching
the field of autism genetics research by performing the first twin
study with Sir Michael Rutter in 1977. Recently, her work has focused
on the milder social and language formulation deficits often seen in
family members of children with autism. She also supported the clinical
goal of detecting deficits in family members, including siblings and
parents, so that genetic studies are better informed through examining
the relevant traits from the entire family.
Over the past 25 years, Folstein has published extensively on the
genetics of autism and its effects on psychological functioning. Her
research has been published in prestigious scholarly journals including
Nature and Science.
Folstein‘s lecture will take place at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center/MRL
Building Room 241. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is a national center for research on
development and developmental disabilities. For more information,
contact Stephanie Comer at 615-322-8240.
Media contacts: Stephanie Comer, (615) 322-8240
stephanie.comer@vanderbilt.edu
Melanie Catania, (615) 322-NEWS
melanie.moran@vanderbilt.edu