Developing Valid Animal Models for Autism - Karen J Parker PhD - The BRAIN Foundation Synchrony 2023

The biological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain poorly understood. Consequently, there are currently no disease-modifying medications that effectively treat ASD’s core behavioral symptoms. Scientific progress in detecting and treating ASD has been impeded, in part, by overreliance on model systems that fundamentally lack crucial features for modeling ASD. This minicourse detailed considerations for selecting appropriate model systems, gold-standard criteria for validating them, and best practice guidelines. An example from the speaker’s own research program on social functioning - spanning model conception to model validation to successful clinical translation - was highlighted. This approach to model development stands to advance our understanding of ASD in a manner not readily achievable with many existing models, and can readily be adapted to investigate other core and associated features of this clinically heterogeneous disorder, thereby streamlining translation and amplifying clinical impact for ASD more broadly.
Dr. Karen J. Parker is the inaugural Truong-Tan Broadcom Endowed Professor, Chair of the Major Laboratories Steering Committee, and Associate Chair for Research Strategy and Oversight, in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also Professor, by courtesy, of Comparative Medicine at Stanford University.
Dr. Parker directs the Social Neurosciences Research Program, which seeks to advance understanding of the biological basis of social functioning across a range of species, and to translate these fundamental insights to drive diagnostic and treatment advances for patients with social impairment. Her core research interests include: oxytocin and vasopressin signaling pathways, development of valid animal models for streamlined translation and clinical impact, and biomarker discovery and therapeutic testing in children with autism spectrum disorder.
🎥 This talk was part of Synchrony 2023 Online Symposium - 'From Bench to Biopharma', organised by the The BRAIN Foundation
🎥 Synchrony 2023 playlist: • Synchrony Symposium 2023
Synchrony brainfoundatio... is the first and only international symposium on translational research in #autism, that brings together academia, #biotech, #pharmaceuticalcompanies and venture partners from around the world with the mission to improve health and quality of life of people with #autismspectrumdisorder.
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The BRAIN Foundation brainfoundatio... is a 501c(3) non-profit. The founders of BRAIN envision a world where every child and adult on the autism spectrum is healthy, participates fully in education and employment, and has a better quality of life. It aims to catalyze research that results in evidence-based interventions for the disabilities associated with autism, and also results in better medical standard of care. To accomplish this, it funds impactful research through #philanthropy and our network of partners in the venture, corporate, and grassroots community.