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Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center

  • Photo from CAN Retreat 2024

    CAN Retreat 2024

2025 August CAN Research Center Retreat

At the start of each school year, the CAN Research Center meets to update members on goals for the upcoming year, learn about ongoing research, discuss critical topics that will advance our mission, and offer a space for building connections. See the additional details below!

Event details

When Thursday, August 14, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where Pastides Alumni Center, 900 Senate St.
Who all can attend CAN members and those interested in learning more about CAN, including:
  • Faculty
  • Postdoctoral scholars
  • Staff
  • Graduate students
  • Undergraduate students

Register to attend

We welcome all CAN Research Center members to attend, including faculty, staff, and trainees (graduate and undergraduate).

In addition, any USC community member interested in learning more about CAN or autism and neurodevelopment is encouraged to attend.

Retreat agenda

Agenda is subject to minor changes.

  1. 8:30–9:00 a.m. Arrival and breakfast
  2. 9:00 a.m. Welcome, introductions, CAN year in review, and upcoming programming
    Presenters: Dr. Jane Roberts, Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  3. 9:30 a.m. Invited speaker: Leonardo Bonilha, Ph.D., M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Research, Dorothea Krebs Professor of Neurology, School of Medicine Columbia
  4. 10:00 a.m. 2025–2026 CAN Pilot Research Awards – overview and update
    Presenter: Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  5. 10:30 a.m. Break
  6. 10:45 a.m. CAN Trainee Science Talks
    Speakers: Dr. Lisa Hamrick (Psychology), Curran Johnston (Neuroscience), Noah Leever (Biological Sciences)
  7. 11:30 a.m. USC and CAN resource opportunities
    Presenters: Dr. Linwan Wu, Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  8. 11:45 a.m. CAN group photo
  9. 12:00 p.m. Networking lunch
  10. 1:15 p.m. Community Advisory Board: review of our first year, mini-CAB panel
    Presenters: Dr. Jessica Bradshaw, Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  11. 1:45 p.m. CAN in the community
    Presenter: Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  12. 2:30 p.m. Break
  13. 2:45 p.m. Faculty Science Talks
    Speakers: Dr. Chad Rose (Education), Dr. Lindsay McCary (Psychology), Dr. Yuexuan Wu (Statistics), Dr. Ashley Kalinski (Biological Sciences)
  14. 3:45 p.m. We CAN Inspire
    Presenter: Dr. Sarah Edmunds

Break-out interest groups

  • Trainee Committee
    Lead: Dr. Cailee Nelson
  • Community-Engaged Research Group
    Leads: Dr. Rob Hock, Dr. Sarah Edmunds
  • Science Communication
    Lead: Dr. Caitlin Hudac
  • CAN Engagement and Event Planning
    Lead: Dr. Jessica Bradshaw

4:30 p.m. Wrap-up and invitation to an optional social hour at Taco Mundo Kitchen, 828 Gervais St.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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