CAN Annual Retreat August 11, 2026
Pastides Alumni Center; The CAN Annual Retreat included invited talks from faculty, community advisory board updates, CAN leadership updates, and break-out interest groups. Thank you to all who joined us.
Recent events
AutismConnect April 7, 2026
Columbia Convention Center; AutismConnect brings together individuals, families, and professionals in the autism community. Discover the latest research, innovative therapies, and support networks. Connect with others, share experiences, and learn from experts dedicated to autism awareness and acceptance.
SCAND 2026 Research Symposium February 27, 2026
Riverbanks Botanical Garden; The SCAND symposium is a free research conference that provides an opportunity for researchers across the state to learn about science targeting autism and neurodevelopmental disorders within South Carolina.
Visiting Scholars series
February 26, 2026
"Identifying Biologically Distinct Subgroups of Autism Based on Family Traits"
Matt Mosconi, PhD
Professor in Department of Clinical Child Psychology, University of Kansas
Director, Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART)
March 18, 2025
"Cultural Tailoring of Autism Interventions for Latino Families"
Sandra Magaña, PhD
Professor in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, University of Texas at Austin
Executive Director, Texas Center for Disability Studies, UT Austin
January 14, 2025
"Molecular Convergence of Two High-Risk Autism Genes in the Control of Dendritic Excitability"
Paul Jenkins, PhD
Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Michigan
Dec. 3, 2024
"Rethinking Treatment Studies in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities"
Leonard Abbeduto, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California--Davis
Director, UC Davis MIND Institute
Dec. 2, 2024
"Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum: Recent Findings and New Directions"
Christine Wu Nordahl, PhD
Director, Autism Phenome Project
Beneto Foundation Endowed Chair, MIND Institute
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California--Davis
Nov. 20, 2024
"APP Gene Dose Induced Disruption of the Endosomal Rab Cascade Linked to Degenerative Phenotypes in Down Syndrome"
Bill Mobley, MD, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Neurology, University of California San Diego
April 4, 2023
"Epistasis and the Genetics Architecture of Quantitative Traits: Lessons From Drosophila"
Trudy Mackay, Ph.D.
March 17, 2023
"Social-Communication Biomarkers: Quantification and Qualification for Clinical Trial Improvement"
Sara Jane Webb, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Washington and Seattle Children's Research Institute
Associate Director and Director of Clinical Translational Core of UW's Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
March 3, 2023
South Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Consortium annual retreat
Hosted by CAN Research Center. Invited speakers including:
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Wendy Chung, Columbia University
- Dr. Robert Anholt, Clemson University
- Dr. Jory Fleming, University of South Carolina
September 19, 2022
"Early Detection of Autism"
Diana Robins, Ph.D.
Director and Professor, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute., Drexel University
April 7, 2022
"Increasing Access to Parent-Mediated Interventions for Autism in the Community: Project ImPACT as a Case Example"
Brooke Ingersoll, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of the MSU Autism Lab, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
February 9, 2022
"mRNA Transport, Local Translation & Neurological Disease"
Gary J. Bassell, Ph.D.
December 8, 2021
"Measuring Anxiety in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder"
Lawrence Scahill, Ph.D.
February 9, 2021
"Neurobiologically-Grounded Signatures of Autism in Infants"
Kristina Denisova, Ph.D.
February 2, 2021
"Effect of early-life immune activation on the ontogeny of learning: Importance for
understanding the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders"
Jaclyn M. Schwarz, Ph.D.
January 28, 2021
"Hiding in Plain Sight? A Deeper Look at Females on the Autism Spectrum"
Clare Harrop, Ph.D.
October 21, 2020
Progress in Biomarker Development in Autism
James McPartland, Ph.D.
February 20, 2020
Understanding (and Supporting) Autistic Girls Through Multi-Method Quantitative Phenotyping
Julia Parish-Morris, Ph.D.
February 11, 2020
Catch Me If You Can: Novel Mechanisms of Social Functioning and Intervention in Youth
with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Matthew D. Lerner, Ph.D.
February 10, 2020
Unraveling Mechanisms of Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Katrina Choe
February 5, 2020
Dimensions and Taxons: Catalyzing a New Frontier in Autism Research
Jed Elison, Ph.D.
February 2, 2020
Bridging the Gap from Genes to Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Dr. Benjamin Auerbach
January 28, 2020
Getting Answers from Babies About Autism
Mayada Elsabbagh, Ph.D.
January 21, 2020
Astrocyte-Neuron Communication During Synapse Development for Health and Disease
Dr. Isabella Farhy-Tselnicke
January 16, 2020
Translating EEG Biomarkers in Autism and Fragile X Syndrome: From Mice to Microstates
to Minocycline
Lauren Etheridge, Ph.D.
January 13, 2020
Local Protein Synthesis During Neural Development: implications for Health and Disease
Dr. Kristy Welshhans
CAN Science - internal weekly meetings
Jan. 14: Caitlin Hudac, PhD
Big ideas: "double empathy" in autism
Jan. 21: Deanna Smith, PhD
Dynein-related disorders with special guests: DYNC1H1 parents
Feb. 4: Amanda Malanuk, MS
Hickory Top Farm and Equine Therapy
Feb. 11: Jessie Bradshaw, PhD
CAN promotion video feedback
Feb. 18: Dan Foster, PhD
Pharmacological Modulation of Repetitive Behaviors in Mice with Genetic Mutations Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Mar. 4: Jameson Hayes, PhD
Using analytic tools to conduct CAN-relevant research of social media
Mar. 18: Kate Flory, PhD
An Initial Examination of the Association Between Physical Activity and Academic Functioning in College Students With and Without ADHD
Apr. 1: Jessica Klusek, PhD
Characterizing the Behavioral Phenotype of Mothers with the Fragile X Full Mutation
Apr. 8: Rob Hock, PhD
Support Groups for Parents of Children with ASD
Apr. 15: Jessie Fu, PhD
Characterizing the Micro Context and Its Impact on Language Development in Preterm and Full-Term Infants
April 22: Brent Wilkerson, PhD
FMR1 mutations in mice models
Sept. 3: Abigail Hogan, PhD
Overview of CLINTRUSC grant submission
Sept. 10: Jessie Bradshaw, PhD
Pre-term infants and autism
Sept. 17: Christian O'Reilly, PhD
Misophonia grant submission
Oct. 1: Dave Stodden, PhD
Motor Development link to Autism - A Complex Issue
Oct. 8: Caroline Toburen
Science Communication Corner
Oct. 22: Keagan Kiely, PhD
Arnold Healthy Kids Initiative
Nov. 5: Sarah Edmunds, PhD
Emotion regulation, meltdowns, and adapted interventions
Nov. 19: Ana Pocivavsek, PhD
Pocivavsek Lab
Dec. 3: Norma Frizzell, PhD
CAN we help the mitochondria?
Jan. 15: Deanna Smith, PhD
Lab overview
Jan. 22: Caitlin Hudac, PhD
R01 submission: natural history of social communication in autism, GRIN2B, and SCN2A
Feb. 5: Jessie Fu, PhD; Mesiam Arjmandi
Pilot grant
Feb. 12: Alessandra Porcu, PhD; Peter Vento, PhD
Upcoming SFARI submission: Rat Consortium
Feb. 19: Ashely Kalinski, PhD
Lab overview
March 19: Kimaya Sarmukadam, PhD
Sensory Impairments and Anxiety in Autistic Preschoolers
April 9: Dezhi Wu, PhD
AI App for youth
April 16: Christian O'Reilly, PhD
Misophonia in ASD (grant in prep)
April 23: Alex Ewing, PhD
Prisma Health Data Repository
Sept. 4: Jeff Twiss, MD, PhD
Lab overview
Sept. 11: CAN EC
Introduction of new coordinatory (Sydney), Q/A about upcoming pilot grants
Sept. 18: Cailee Nelson PhD
Postdoct in B-RAD Lab; new project on autistic collaboration using EEG hyperscanning
Oct. 2: Jane Roberts, PhD
Upcoming P50 submission
Oct .9: Peter Duffy, PhD; Caitlin Hudac, PhD
Rooster Tales theatre camp for autistic students
Oct. 16: Dan Foster, PhD
Lab overview
Oct. 30: Sarah Edmunds, PhD
Lab overview
Nov. 6: Linwan Wu, PhD
CIC Resources, introduction
Nov. 13: Alex Carrico, PhD
Overview of music therapy for individuals with Williams syndrome
Jan. 17: Jane Roberts, PhD
T32: update and input
Jan. 31: Rob Jock PhD
Autism and Family Lab
Feb. 7: Audrey Kananowicz
Summer camp partnerships
Feb. 14: Ana Pocivavasek, PhD
Preclinical sleep studies
Feb. 21: Katie Wolfe, PhD
Teacher Data-Based Decision Making
March 13: Jessie Bradshaw, PhD
Attention, Heart Rate, Infants, Autism
March 20: Holley Arnold, PhD
Williams Sydrome
April 10: Abby Hogan, PhD
Anxiety in ASD
Sept. 6: Caitlin Hudac, PhD
Future grant idea
Sept. 13: Vandana Srivastava (LINA Lab, O'Reilly)
ANS activity project + Research Plan
Sept. 20: Diksha Srishyla (LINA Lab, O'Reilly)
Project overview
Oct. 4: Jessie Fu, PhD
Grant / project idea
Oct . 11:
Grant / project idea
Oct. 18: Dan Foster, PhD
Grant / project idea
Nov. 1: Kristy Weslhaans, PhD
Grant / project idea
Nov. 8: Sarah Edmunds, PhD
Grant / project idea
Nov. 29: Fiona Hollis, PhD
Grant / project idea
Past annual retreats
- August 11, 2026
- August 14, 2025
- August 14, 2024
- August 14, 2023
- August 8, 2022