Latest Chan Division News
Autism
AI tools to help unveil patterns between social determinants of health, mental health risks, among autistic youth ⟩
November 10, 2025
Artificial Intelligence Autism Research
Amber Angell to lead five-year, $3.6 million study analyzing electronic health records, with collaborators from academia and the autistic community.
By Mike McNulty (Adobe Stock) A new USC-led study will apply artificial intelligence tools to electronic health records (EHRs) in order to better understand how social determinants of health — non-medical factors impacting health, such as education, income, housing and neighborhood resources like…
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Aziz-Zadeh receives Nimoy Knight Foundation’s Live Long and Prosper Award ⟩
October 24, 2025
Honor celebrates values of iconic “Star Trek” character Spock, such as rationality, peace, compassion and belonging.
Professor Lisa Aziz-Zadeh offers the iconic Vulcan hand salute :spock-hand: popularized by Nimoy (Photo courtesy of Lisa Aziz-Zadeh) Professor Lisa Aziz-Zadeh has been named a 2025 recipient of the Live Long and Prosper Tribute Award from the Nimoy Knight Foundation. The honor celebrates those…
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USC scientists find a gut-brain link that may affect behavior in children with autism ⟩
April 14, 2025
An imbalance in the microbiome disrupts neurotransmitter production and may manifest as social difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
By Leigh Hopper A new USC study suggests that gut imbalances in children with autism may create an imbalance of metabolites in the digestive system — ultimately disrupting neurotransmitter production and influencing behavioral symptoms. The research, published Monday in Nature Communications, adds…
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PhD candidate Franklin receives AOTF Kielhofner Award ⟩
February 7, 2025
Associations and Bodies Autism Awards Research Students
$5,000 award will support qualitative and participatory approach to expand "belonging" theory in occupational therapy.
By Mike McNulty Occupational science PhD candidate Marshae Franklin OTD ’21, PhD ’26 (Photo courtesy of Marshae Franklin) Occupational science PhD candidate Marshae Franklin OTD ’21, PhD ’26 was named the 2025 recipient of the Dr. Gary Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship in Occupational…
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Belonging and camouflaging while Black, female and autistic ⟩
July 10, 2024
Autism Community and Partners Research Students
New article explores how occupational science might reconcile authentic belonging and autistic camouflaging among intersectional populations.
By Mike McNulty First author and occupational science PhD candidate Marshae Franklin OTD ’21, PhD ’26 (Photo courtesy of Marshae Franklin) To what extent does a person truly “fit in,” when fitting in requires hiding parts of one’s authentic self? What disruptions arise at the juncture…
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AI could help in the early diagnosis of autism, USC study finds ⟩
December 20, 2023
Artificial Intelligence Autism Faculty Research Technology
Results indicate an “easy and novel” way to detect autism spectrum disorders, paving the way for tailored therapeutic approaches.
By Leigh Hopper Artificial intelligence, coupled with data from an iPad coloring game, could assist in early diagnosis of autism, a new USC study shows. “These results indicate potential for an easy and novel method for early detection of autism and development coordination disorder,” said…
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Sensory adapted dental rooms significantly reduce autistic children’s physiological and behavioral stress during teeth cleanings ⟩
June 2, 2023
Autism Community and Partners Diversity, Access, Equity Health and Wellness Research
Results of USC–CHLA study of 162 autistic children show that safe and feasible adaptations to the clinic environment created more relaxed, less anxious dental care experiences.
By Mike McNulty In the SADE research clinic at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, sensory adaptations to the environment were shown to significantly reduce autistic children's physiological and behavioral stress during dental cleanings. (Photo by Phil Channing) New results from a study led by USC…
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Four new, early-stage projects selected for internal research funding ⟩
February 3, 2023
Autism Community and Partners Faculty Pandemic Research
Aims of projects include increasing social connections in mental health clubhouses, improving return-to-work, developing trauma-informed framework for minoritized families of autistic girls and better understanding autistic sensory strengths
Three projects have been selected for the upcoming funding cycle of the Responding to Society’s Post-pandemic Occupational Needs (ReSPONs) Initiative, the USC Chan Division’s seed grant mechanism for early-stage projects that address the intersecting pandemics — COVID-19, systemic racial…
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Study highlights barriers, facilitators to telehealth occupational therapy for autistic children during the pandemic ⟩
January 17, 2023
Autism Community and Partners Pandemic Research Technology
Qualitative research explores perspectives of occupational therapists, clinical administrators and caregivers.
By Mike McNulty Telehealth became an essential way for occupational therapists to work with clients during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, nearly three years after the March 2020 stay-at-home orders, researchers from USC Chan’s Disparity Reduction and Equity in Autism Services (DREAmS) lab published…
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Study finds 3 percent of children have elevated sensory issues that seemingly worsen throughout early childhood, a pattern strongly linked to autism ⟩
December 29, 2022
By following more than 1,500 children over six years, USC-led study helps confirm sensory features are an early behavioral marker of autism.
By Mike McNulty Figure 1 from the article showing identified Class types and their respective trajectories. (Figure courtesy of Chen et al.) New results from a USC-led study reveal that 3 percent of all children have elevated sensory traits which seemingly worsen as they grow from infants/toddlers…
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