Public Talk : Autism Spectrum Disorders

AUTISM GETS PERSONAL: EMERGING THERAPIES FROM THE INTERFACE OF GENES AND ENVIRONMENTS.

The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), defined by significant deficits in communication, social reciprocity and behaviour, are the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder and a rapidly growing public health concern. One of the University of British Columbia Life Sciences Institute (LSI) initiatives, iTARGET Autism, brings together research on genes, behaviour, brain function and gut microbes, with the aim of providing early diagnosis and individualized treatments for children with Autism. On October 8, 2014, a group of experts presented short talks and hosted a discussion about emerging therapies for ASDs.

  • Dr Suzanne Lewis – Clinical Professor – Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia; Director, Autism Spectrum Interdisciplinary Research (ASPIRE) Program, BC Child & Family Research Institute
  • Dr Shernaz Bamji – Associate Professor & Group Leader – Neuroscience Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia
  • Dr Derrick MacFabe – Director & Assistant Professor – Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, University of Western Ontario
  • Sergio Cocchia – President & CEO – Pacific Autism Family Centre
  • Moderator – Dr Jane Roskams – Professor – Neuroscience Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia

 

Question & Answer period begins 1h 13m into the video:

  • In addition to microbiome-related effects, what other environmental factors, other than drugs, are being investigated as contributing to different subgroups of autism? (1h 13m)
  • When does the intestinal bacteria’s role start? Is it at breast-feeding or transition to solid food? (1h 17m)
  • Do the joint factors of infection and antibiotics both have to occur in the examples of hospitalizations? Can the diet itself make a difference? (1h 19m)
  • Have dietary studies been done on a wider population of autistic children? Have probiotics been effectively tested in the context of ASDs? (1h 22m)
  • Are fecal transplants being considered? (1h 27m)
  • How would genetic mutations cause autism? (1h 31m)
  • Why is there a delay in recognizing autism before the age of three? Is it because of difficulty in diagnosis or because the child is usually not brought in for examination until after the age of two? (1h 37m)
  • Where and how can we access more information about early signs of autism? Will the Pacific Autism Family Centre (PAFC) have a facility that will assist in that? (1h 41m)
  • Do you foresee a different kind of universal screening that is not based just on behavioural observations? (1h 44m)
  • How much of the increase in autism diagnosis is actually the result of better detection and not an increase in the prevalence of autism? (1h 48min)
  • In the title iTARGET, the word recovery is used. Do you believe that the individuals on this spectrum can recover? (1h 53min)

 

Suzanne Lewis

Dr. Suzanne Lewis, MD

Clinical Professor
Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia; Director, Autism Spectrum Interdisciplinary Research (ASPIRE) Program, BC Child & Family Research Institute

Shernaz Bamji

Dr. Shernaz Bamji

Associate Professor & Group Leader
Neuroscience Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia

Derrick MacFabe

Dr. Derrick MacFabe, MD

Director & Assistant Professor
Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, University of Western Ontario

Sergio Cocchia

Sergio Cocchia

President & CEO
Pacific Autism Family Centre

Jane Roskams

Moderated by Dr. Jane Roskams

Professor
Neuroscience Research Group, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia

 
 
The Life Sciences Institute hosts the LSI Public Talks, a series of informal talks and networking that aim to help the public understand how our research has an impact on their lives. The 2014-2015 series focuses on personalized medicine and how the LSI faculty, staff and students are working to change clinical practice, improve health outcomes, and reduce health costs.

The LSI Public Talks are delivered in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library and UBC’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

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