About the speaker:
Judy Van de Water, PhD, joined the faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis in 1999. In 2000, she also joined the faculty of the newly formed UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute when she began her research on the immunobiology of autism. Dr. Van de Water’s laboratory pursues research programs pertaining to autoimmune and clinical immune-based disorders including the biological aspects of autism spectrum disorders. The application of Dr. Van de Water’s immunopathology background has been instrumental in the dissection of the immune anomalies noted in some individuals with autism, and in the differentiation of various autism behavioral phenotypes at a biological level. Most notable of these is the investigation of the maternal immune system as it relates to autism spectrum disorders, with particular emphasis on the presence of highly specific maternal autoantibodies to fetal brain proteins. Dr. Van de Water’s seminal work in this area has led to a highly specific biomarker of autism risk as well as three patents leading to the commercialization of this technology. Dr. Van de Water is currently the Director of the NIEHS funded Center for Children’s Environmental Health at UC Davis, investigating potential environmental risk factors contributing to the incidence and severity of childhood autism.
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Gestational Influences and Autism – 2023
Free webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time (US), Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Learn updates about emerging research on gestational influences on the etiology of autism. The speaker: Judy
Two studies indicate that autoantibodies in maternal blood may provide diagnostic clues in autism
Certain patterns of proteins in the blood of pregnant women may help to predict one type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, according to two new studies. Both studies focused
Pregnancy spacing may affect odds of ASD
Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may reduce their odds of having another child with ASD if they time a second pregnancy to occur 2.5 to 3 years after
Study hints at association between maternal exposure to flame retardant chemicals and ASD
A new animal study suggests that maternal exposure to a class of fire-retardant chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may play a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Elena Kozlova and
Research on Maternal Immune Activation, Pregnancy & Covid-19
Learn about emerging findings on maternal immune activation and Covid-19. About the speaker: Judy Van de Water, PhD, joined the faculty in the
Preparing for Back-to-School During COVID-19
As students prepare to return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have questions about how to help your loved ones on the spectrum cope with social distancing,