Child Mind Institute Prioritizes Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD) Research and Care With the Appointment of Dr. Amy Margolis

Appointment coincides with $1 million gift from The NVLD Project

New York, NY — The Child Mind Institute is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Amy Margolis as a Senior Research Fellow. In her new role, Dr. Margolis will drive cutting-edge research initiatives at the Institute, furthering the understanding and treatment of learning disabilities such as dyslexia and non-verbal learning disability (NVLD). Her arrival coincides with a $1 million gift from The NVLD Project, establishing the Non-Verbal Learning Disability Research Fund (NVLD), dedicated to advancing critical research to this lesser-known, and severely underfunded, neurodevelopmental disorder. This partnership offers a transformative shift in how NVLD is recognized, understood and treated.

A 2020 study led by Drs. Amy Margolis and Michael Milham, Chief Science Officer, of the Child Mind Institute estimated that nearly 3 million children and adolescents in North America may have NVLD, which affects a person’s ability to process or integrate visual and spatial information. The Child Mind Institute aims to elevate awareness of NVLD, bringing attention to these challenges within educational, medical, and broader public arenas. Through pioneering initiatives—including advocating for the inclusion of this disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- 5, refining diagnostic assessments, and conducting research studies—our teams are exploring the development of new evidence based treatment interventions for youth with this disorder.

Formerly Dr. Margolis was an Associate Professor at Columbia University and head of the Environment, Brain, and Behavior Lab. She has conducted pioneering research that has significantly advanced the understanding of how environmental factors affect cognitive development and learning. In her new role at the Child Mind Institute, she will spearhead innovative research initiatives exploring the intersection of neuroscience, environmental factors, and learning disorders such as dyslexia and NVLD, all while working collaboratively with the expert clinical team in the Learning and Development Center at the Child Mind Institute.

​​”I am thrilled to join the Child Mind Institute, an organization that leads cutting-edge research and sets the standard for innovative practices and treatments in child development and mental health,” said Dr. Margolis. “Together, we will map out new patterns of learning disorders and develop precision-oriented interventions to address these challenges.”

Dr. Michael Milham stated, “Dr. Margolis brings an unmatched depth of expertise in developmental and environmental neuroscience. We are so pleased that Laura Lemle, the visionary Founder of The NVLD Project is supporting her work and our collective efforts to enhance our understanding of how learning disabilities develop.”

“The partnership between The NVLD Project and the Child Mind Institute has so much potential to change the lives of people with NVLD,” said Laura Lemle, PhD, The NVLD Project Founder. “That potential will only be accelerated by the appointment of Dr. Amy Margolis.”

To learn more, see our resources about NVLD and read Dr. Margolis’s full biography.

About the Child Mind Institute

We are the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing open science initiatives and tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

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