Event
Integrating Sex and Gender into Autism Research: From Clinical to Basic Sciences
Presented By
Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai is an Associate Professor and Co-Chair at the University of Toronto. Dr. Lai’s work focuses on how sex- and gender-related factors act as modulating mechanisms for the presentation and adaptation, clinical recognition, neurobiology, and etiologies of neurodevelopmental and co-occurring mental health conditions.
About the Event
Autism is increasingly recognized in girls, women, and gender-divergent people. This knowledge shows how the understanding spanning from classical to nuanced phenotypes of autism contributes to the epistemic iteration of the diagnostic concept. Meanwhile, there are increasing better-powered biological studies on the heterogeneity of autism related to sex, and on the etiological relations between sex-related mechanisms and developmental mechanisms of autism. By integrating these new developments, I will offer reflections on knowledge gaps, clinical implications, and research directions to improve the wellbeing of autistic people across sexes and genders.
Learning Objectives
- Critically review the latest research discoveries on the roles of sex- and gender-related factors on autism presentation and recognition
- Incorporate sex and gender science to clarify the neurobiology of autism
- Develop clinical skills to improve the care and support for autistic people across sexes and genders
About the Visiting Professor Lecture Series
The Child Mind Institute Visiting Professor Lecture Series invites leaders in the field of child and adolescent mental health to talk about the latest research and treatment protocols. All events are open to the public. This year, all lectures will be hosted virtually over Zoom. In partnership with Northwell Health, continuing medical education (CME) credits for psychiatrists and continuing education (CE) credits for psychologists are available to registered course participants.
