Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI): Research Progress and Future Directions

Wednesday, August 19, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.
Watch Webinar Recording

NIH hosted a virtual public webinar to showcase the research progress made since the ADSI launched in September 2025 and highlight future research directions.

Agenda Overview

10:00 – 10:05 AMIntroduction & Agenda
10:05 – 10:10 AMWelcome by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, NIH Director
10:10 – 10:30 AM

ADSI Background and Overview

  • Dr. C. Taylor Gilliland (NIH Office of the Director)
  • Dr. Christy Kano (NIH Office of the Director)
10:30 – 11:00 AM

Panel: The Role of Community Engagement in ADSI

  • Moderator: Dr. Susan Daniels (NIH Office of the Director)
11:00 – 11:10 AMBREAK
11:10 – 11:40 AM

ADSI Project Presentations: Prevalence

  • Dr. Amy Cochran (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
  • Dr. Judith Miller (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
11:40 AM – 12:25 PM

ADSI Project Presentations: Etiology and Causation (Part 1)

  • Dr. Xiaobin Wang, Dr. Rebecca Keener (Johns Hopkins University), Dr. Marilyn Augustyn (Boston Medical Center)
  • Dr. Jonathan Sebat (University of California, San Diego)
  • Dr. Kristen Lyall (Drexel University)
12:25 – 1:00 PMLUNCH BREAK
1:00 – 2:00 PM

ADSI Project Presentations: Etiology and Causation (Part 2)

  • Dr. Jason Stein and Dr. Joe Piven (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
  • Dr. Douglas Walker (Emory University)
  • Dr. Pamela Feliciano (Boston Children’s Hospital)
  • Dr. Daniel Geschwind (University of California, Los Angeles), Dr. Mark Gerstein (Yale School of Medicine), Dr. Michael Wells (University of California, Los Angeles)
2:00 – 2:10 PMBREAK
2:10 – 2:40 PM

ADSI Project Presentations: Clinical Services and Treatments

  • Dr. Laura Grofer Klinger (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
  • Dr. Margaret Gillis (SRI International)
     
2:40 – 3:00 PM

ADSI Validation and Replication Presentations

  • Dr. Judy Zhong (Cornell University)
  • Dr. Zhandong Liu (Baylor College of Medicine)
3:00 PM

Closing 

  • Dr. C. Taylor Gilliland (NIH Office of the Director)

Questions, Comments, or Feedback

Please use the form below to submit any questions, comments, or feedback you have regarding the information presented at the ADSI public webinar held on August 19, 2026. Submissions are voluntary and may be entered anonymously. You may also voluntarily include your name, affiliation, and email address with your submission. After NIH has finished reviewing the submissions, answers to frequently asked questions will be posted on this ADSI website. NIH does not intend to respond directly to individuals who submit questions, comments, or feedback via this form.

ADSI Webinar Questions, Comments, or Feedback Submission Form

The deadline to submit any questions, comments, or feedback is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
 

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