York Autism Research Alliance shares research findings with wider autism community

Some 24 outside agencies came to the inaugural York Autism Research Alliance’s Research Showcase at York last week to hear what researchers were working on – everything from isolating three to 20 genes potentially responsible for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to looking at how children with ASD process visual and auditory information. “The take home […]

Ontario's lieutenant governor visits York's Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative

The Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative (MEHRI) explores the critical role of the caregiving environment in the evolution and development of language, intelligence, social skills and reflective consciousness in children. During a recent conversation with York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David Onley (Hon. LLD '09), expressed an interest in the research initiative. […]

Audio: Professor Stuart Shanker says self-regulation a growing trend in child and adult psychology

Stuart Shanker, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology and Philosophy and director of the Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative at York University, spoke about the concept of self-regulation – managing our inner emotional life – and its increasing role in treating children with mental disorders, such as autism, and adults on CBC Radio’s “Ideas” program […]

Professor Dorota Crawford's research shows misoprostol prevents cell communication

Drug has been linked to neurodevelopmental defects associated with autism A York University study has shown for the first time how the drug misoprostol, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental defects associated with autism, interferes with neuronal cell function. It is an important finding because misoprostol is similar in structure to naturally occurring prostaglandins, which […]

York study makes key discovery about autism's beginnings

A gene mutation found in some people with autism appears to disrupt very early stages of brain development and contribute to the nervous system deficits that are the hallmarks of autism disorder, a York University study has found. The study traces the link from autism and a mutated gene to the molecular mechanisms of cell […]