UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment

02/03/2026

Free virtual event on Feb. 6th! Join us for the next presentation in the CART Distinguished Lecture Series with guest speaker, Dr. Angelica Ronald discussing: “The Field of Infant Genetics Offers New Insights Into Neurodevelopmental Conditions: The Example of Age at Onset of Walking." Click here for event details: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/autism/event/field-infant-genetics-offers-new-insights-neurodevelopmental-conditions-example-age

01/27/2026

A Community Journey: Latino Families and Autism Research
In the Latino community, autism has often carried stigma. Grace and her family believe education and participation can change that. Through the SPARK autism study, families help doctors and researchers better understand autism to help improve lives.

Participation helps build acceptance and find answers.�
Join us for a SPARK Study Live Registration Event in Bakersfield in partnership with Exceptional Family Center!

The event will be held on Saturday, January 31st. For more information, please see the flyer below.
If interested in participating, please RSVP through this URL:
https://forms.gle/6UJrdRF7BcAjAZoP9
Unable to attend? Register for SPARK online via
English: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla
Español: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla/es
For questions, contact:
Lily Mendes: lmendes@mednet.ucla.edu ; (424) 371-1345
Angelina Matar: amatar@mednet.ucla.edu

01/27/2026

An Autistic Love Story: A Journey of Understanding
“For the first time, I felt understood.” Micaela and Diego’s relationship is built on acceptance, encouragement, and seeing each other’s gifts as autistic adults. Through their involvement with the SPARK autism study, they’re helping autism research understand the real lives, relationships, and experiences
of autistic people.

Be part of autism research that includes everyone! Join us for a SPARK Study Live Registration Event in Bakersfield in partnership with Exceptional Family Center.

The event will be held on Saturday, January 31st. For more information, please see the flyer below.
If interested in participating, please RSVP through this URL:
https://forms.gle/6UJrdRF7BcAjAZoP9
Unable to attend? Register for SPARK online via
English: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla
Español: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla/es
For questions, contact:
Lily Mendes: lmendes@mednet.ucla.edu ; (424) 371-1345
Angelina Matar: amatar@mednet.ucla.edu

01/12/2026

Join us for the next presentation in the CART Distinguished Lecture Series with guest speaker, Dr. Michael Lombardo discussing: “Stratifying the autisms by a type I versus type II distinction in early development” happing on January 16, 2026 at 9am PT. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T6D4WQ0hT9GxQiSGjQdNUA #/registration

Dr. Lombardo is a psychologist and neuroscientist who studies multi-scale heterogeneity in autism and a professor at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.

01/06/2026

Join us for a SPARK Study Live Registration Event in Bakersfield in partnership with Exceptional Family Center. SPARK is a nationwide study with a simple mission: to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to improve lives. Participants will get to participate in SPARK and enjoy some sweet treats!
The event will be held on Saturday, January 31st. For more information, please see the flyer below.
If interested in participating, please RSVP through this URL:
https://forms.gle/6UJrdRF7BcAjAZoP9
Unable to attend? Register for SPARK online via
English: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla
Español: www.sparkforautism.org/ucla/es
For questions, contact:
Lily Mendes: lmendes@mednet.ucla.edu ; (424) 371-1345
Angelina Matar: amatar@mednet.ucla.edu
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you and your families!

12/19/2025

We hope that you will join us for the upcoming Distinguished Lecture Series. Please find the information below, along with the flyer attached. 

S*X AND GENDER-BASED DISPARITIES IN THE AUTISM DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

Speaker: Dr. Ingrid Tien, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Date: Monday, January 12, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM PDT  
Location: Free and live on Zoom!

Link in our bio 💫

12/19/2025

12/19/2025

UCLA awarded $7.5 million grant to support international autism clinical trials network. Multicenter collaboration will accelerate clinical trial readiness and implementation for people with autism, related conditions. “We envision a research and clinical care system working in concert to deliver therapies for autistic people seeking support, including people with co-occurring conditions like epilepsy,” said Jeste. “This collaborative, international network will advance these efforts.” Read full article: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/ucla-awarded-75-million-grant-support-international-autism

12/18/2025

Join us for a FREE Parent Training Session hosted by UCLA, SPARK, and The Color of Autism Foundation! 💙

Learn about positive discipline for children with disabilities and how to navigate IEPs with expert speakers Natasha Nelson and Gloria Perez, JD.

📅 Saturday, January 10th | ⏰ 10 AM–1 PM
📍 Children’s Institute, Los Angeles
🍽️ Lunch & refreshments provided

Scan the QR code or RSVP here: https://forms.gle/t9Nt2ckyMtjshM2i7

12/02/2025

12/02/2025

For more than 20 years, the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) has driven breakthroughs in autism science and clinical care — from cells to service. This Giving Tuesday, your support is more than a donation — it’s an investment in evidence, care, and hope. Donate today 🔗 https://giving.ucla.edu/Campaign/Donate.aspx?SiteNum=171

11/24/2025

In the media: NYT 'The Daily' breaks down the increase in autism rates with Dr. Cathy Lord, professor at UCLA CART. Listen here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/podcasts/the-daily/autism-diagnosis-spectrum-kennedy.html

Autism rates have increased in recent decades, but the reasons are more complicated than what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has presented.