Email this pageNeurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Research
Research Programs Team
Research Director, Tristram H. Smith, Ph.D.
Tristram Smith, Ph.D., conducts research on treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders. He has published a number of studies on early intensive behavioral intervention, which involves 20-40 hours of individualized instruction that begins before children reach five years of age. He is currently an investigator in the University of Rochester’s NIH-funded Center for Studies To Advance Autism Research and Treatment. He is also the principal investigator in an NIH-funded randomized clinical trial focusing on a behavioral treatment (parent training) and medication (atomoxetine) for children with autism who also live with symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He participates in a study funded by the Institute for Education Sciences and led by the University of Buffalo on social skills training for children with high-functioning autism. In addition, he is the co-principal investigator of the Rochester site in the Autism Treatment Network (supported by Autism Speaks) and the Autism Intervention Research Network for Physical Health (supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration).
Loisa Bennetto, Ph.D.
Christine M. Burns, Ed. M., M.B.A.
Christine Burns’ research interests include Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) and Neurotoxicants and Educational Achievement. Christine is working with interdisciplinary faculty in the Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program on an interdisciplinary series of studies examining the role of care coordination in the health and education status of children with special care needs (CSHCN). Studies examine care coordination practices among parents and professionals, the efficacy of Internet use for care coordination services and factors associated with adoption of electronic information systems for (EIS) delivery of health care and education.
Christine Burns is working with Philip Davidson, PhD and Gary Myers, MD to study the effects of transplacentally transmitted methylmercury (MeHg) on children’s educational achievement and behavior. The study is focused on developmental outcomes in a cohort of about 800 children prenatally exposed to MeHg in the Republic of Seychelles.
Dr. Davidson is involved in The Seychelles Child Development Study (SCDS) a research project involving the Ministries of Health and Education in Seychelles, the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, and the University of Rochester in the United States. The study began in the mid-1980s with two main objectives:
To study child development in the Republic of Seychelles and to study factors, such as diet, that may modulate associations between mercury exposure and child development
To study effects of prenatal and postnatal mercury exposure
- To study exposure to organic and inorganic mercury
- To study factors that modulate associations between mercury exposure and child development
- To study the relation between mercury exposure and disabilities such as Autism
Dr. Hyman’s research interests are:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders and how they are similar and different to other developmental conditions
- Diet and Nutrition in Autism
- Medical Management of Children and Adolescents with Autism
Autism is a developmental disability with no known etiology or cure. Most evidence suggests a genetic etiology. Little research to date has addressed diagnosis and management of medical disorders seen in children and youth with Autism. In collaboration, with the Autism Treatment Network we are examining sleep, Gasternal Intestinal and other such co morbidities such as Down Syndrome. In addition, we are examining diet and nutrition related to wellness treatment in Autism. This extends to evaluation to taste and smell.
Kimberly Johnson, M.D., Fellow
Iron metabolism has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits in attention, sleep and social reciprocity in both animal and human studies. Kimberly’s research project focuses on children and adolescents diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and the prevalence of iron deficiency in this population.Kimberly’s study will test the hypotheses that children with ASD are 1.) at risk for iron deficiency and 2.) iron deficient children with ASD have more difficulty with social skills, attention, and sleep as reported by their parents.
Dr. Magyar has two areas of applied research, which maps directly onto her clinical work. The first is in educational program development and evaluation. Youth with autism require extensive special education services that often challenge a school's capacity to develop and implement effective programming.
Given the diversity of student needs, and of school cultures with respect to program development and evaluation it is unlikely that any one approach to educational programming for youth with autism will be sufficient. Instead, it is expected that replicable program evaluation methods will be necessary to assist schools in designing and evaluating evidence-based programs tailored to their educational context and the varied needs of the students.
Dr. Magyar's applied research seeks to validate a reliable program model for schools and autism treatment centers to use in their own program development and evaluation activities. Over the past several years she has developed and studied a model of program development and evaluation. This model includes a formal needs assessment protocol, standard program elements, an implementation plan, and program evaluation protocol. She has field-tested this model through a series of case studies, supported by grants or large technical assistance contracts. Results indicate the model produces high quality programs and is applicable across a variety of educational placement options.
The second area of applied research is in psychological assessment and instrumentation. Valid and reliable assessment tools are essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment and educational planning, progress monitoring, and measurement of outcomes in research protocols.
Currently, Dr. Magyar is evaluating the validity of several diagnostic and psychological assessment tools in youth with autism and completing a series of studies on the technical properties of the measures used in her program evaluation model.
Dr. McAdam research focuses on the application of applied behavioral analytic assessment and educational procedures to persons with developmental disabilities such as autism and intellectual disabilities. The majority of Dr. McAdam research has been conducted in close calibration with various community-based service providers. He has published research on a variety of topics including the effects of motivational factors on choice making, increase the activity engagement of adults with disabilities in functional activities, the assessment and treatment of problem behavior (e.g., aggression towards other people, pica), and drug behavior interactions. His most current research interests involve the evaluation of behavioral analytic teaching procedures for children with autism, the meta analysis of single-case research studies, and application of physiological measures to functional assessment methods.
Dr. Mruzek’s research interests center upon investigation of assessment and intervention strategies for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities, including early intensive behavioral intervention, adaptive behavior assessment and related skills instruction, and promotion of successful school inclusion. His current projects include development of adaptive behavior assessment tools and single-subject design studies investigating ABA-based intervention strategies.
Dr. Napolitano has broad research interests in the area of developmental and intellectual disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Her research has focused on three primary areas, a) biobehavioral interventions (e.g., effects of medication on problem behavior and the interaction between medication and behavioral interventions) b) functional assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, and c) interventions for repetitive behavior. Dr. Napolitano has obtained research funding to examine interventions to increase diverse responding in persons with ASD. Dr. Napolitano also has worked with her research mentors on several federally funded research projects. She worked as a project coordinator for Dr. Steven Schroeder at the University of Kansas on a clinical trial of Risperdal for persons with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities and most recently at the University of Rochester as a co-investigator on Dr. Jennifer Zarcone’s research examining the compulsive behavior of persons with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
Jessica Roesser, M.D., Fellow
Jessica Roesser’s research projects are both on autism spectrum disorders. One chart review evaluates the etiologic testing and looks for specific subgroups for more targeted testing. The other is a chart review describing the parental reports on the feeding, toileting and sleep difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders compared to typical children.
Laura Silverman, Ph.D.
Dr. Silverman has two primary research interests 1) characterizing features of verbal and non-verbal communication in individuals with autism; and 2) defining diagnostic features of autism in special populations. The focus of her work on verbal and nonverbal communication includes examining how well individuals with autism understand gestural communication, and how these skills relate their ability to navigate in the social world. Laura is also interested in identifying underlying cognitive processes that enhance or impede communication for people with autism. The overarching goal of this research is to define areas of communicative strengths and weaknesses, identify possible explanations for these weaknesses, and create interventions to support improved communication in autism. Laura’s interest in diagnosis includes examining behavioral features of individuals in special populations including children who are deaf.
Benjamin W. Smith, Ph.D., BCBA
Dr. Benjamin W. Smith, BCBAhas three areas of research interest. First, to increase the long term sustainability of effective behavior support plans for students who engage in chronic problematic/antisocial behavior patterns. Second, Dr. Smith has conducted several studies designed to improve the assessment techniques of, and interventions for reducing the occurrence of coercive escalation patterns between adults and children. The last area of research Dr. Smith is currently working in is School-wide Positive Behavior Supports.
Dr. Sulkes engages in research in three major areas. He participates in research on health and developmental/behavioral problems in children with Down syndrome, having been a co-investigator in the Down syndrome/Autism epidemiology study with Dr. Hyman. In the area of physical disabilities, he is leading the study of S100β proteins as possible markers of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction in children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and has directed clinical trials of medications in this population. He joins other faculty of the LEND program in studying health care delivery to children and youth with developmental disabilities, with particular emphasis on interprofessional communication and data exchange.
Jennifer Zarcone’s research focuses on compulsive behavior and food motivation in a chromosome 15 genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), cognitive learning tasks, and psychological measures. Dr. Zarcone is also conducting research on severe behavior disorders in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Finally, she conducts clinical trials research evaluating medication and behavioral interventions for children with developmental disabilities.
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Research
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics