Research
“Future research needs to focus not only on the biological markers of autism but also include data about functioning, participation, and environmental barriers and facilitators.”
Dr. Olaf Kraus de Camargo // Developmental Pediatrician
MacART is laying the foundation for creating a systematic way of linking scientific research on autism at McMaster University to clinical practice at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
The physical proximity of McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, and McMaster University has a number of characteristics that provides the rare opportunity for collaborative research. Taking advantage of existing university and clinical infrastructure and cross-appointments for clinicians at the university, autism experts from these organizations are coming together to integrate autism research into clinical practice.
The focus of MacART members’ research is in the areas of basic science, clinical practice, clinical research, epidemiology and statistical modelling, knowledge translation and exchange, and social science research. By promoting the collaboration of stakeholders across disciplines, MacART is reducing barriers to implementing research in clinical practice, with the goal of advancing autism care through meaningful research.
Learn more about our research HERE.
Education
MacART members are now supervising more than 50 research trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, and are engaged in the mentoring of junior and intermediate faculty members.
In the future, we intend to establish research and clinical training programs for students in McMaster’s undergraduate medical, health sciences, and psychology programs, and for residents and fellows in Pediatrics and Psychiatry.
By training and mentoring emerging researchers and practitioners, we will help to solidify their understanding of and commitment to using basic science to inform their clinical practice, and to use their clinical experience to help formulate research questions. It is our belief that involving these learners in MacART educational activities will promote their use of practices that advance autism care through meaningful research.
Community
“Our scientists are working collaboratively with local clinicians to generate the evidence needed to improve autism services. This symposium is a great example of McMaster’s community engagement efforts.”
Dr. Patrick Deane // President & Vice-Chancellor // McMaster University
The community engagement component of MacART strives to work with stakeholders and involve them as partners in every step of the research process. By doing so, the questions that drive research begin to change. They become more meaningful because they address the real day-to-day challenges faced by children and their families, and the clinicians supporting them.
MacART aims to increase participation and involvement of members of the McMaster and Hamilton communities in the research process. With community members driving the research, new and relevant knowledge can be produced to bridge the research-to-practice gap in autism and advance autism care through meaningful research.
Policy
“People whose lives are connected to the challenge of autism can share knowledge – from clinicians to educators to parents – and what an amazing opportunity that is. We have a real opportunity to translate challenges into research, and research into practice that will help families living with Autism.”
Rob MacIsaac // President & CEO // Hamilton Health Sciences
Policies should be created using the best available evidence that make positive impacts on the lives of Autistic individuals, along with their families.
MacART’s founder, Dr. Stelios Georgiades, serves on both federal and provincial advisory committees about Autism supports/service funding. Along with the wide-ranging expertise of its many autism experts, MacART is set to act as a highly credible source of evidence-based information to influence and inform public policy about the provision and funding of autism diagnosis, services, and family supports.
MacART will continue to find ways to collaborate with policymakers to both learn more about the policymaking process, and to contribute our expertise and knowledge to inform policymaking, in order to advance Autism care through meaningful research.
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Welcome to the McMaster Autism Research Team (MacART)!
We are the McMaster Autism Research Team, a group of researchers, clinicians, clinician-scientists, and other experts who foster collaboration among the families, researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers whose lives and work are touched by Autism.
MacART held its 3rd Autism Research Symposium on May 26, 2023, with the theme, “Autism and Mental Health: Towards an Ecological Lifespan Approach”.
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MacART at INSAR 2023
MacART members attended the 2023 International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meeting. This year, our members contributed to 26 posters, 2 oral presentations, and 2 panel sessions.
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2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment
MacART is proud to partner with Autism Speaks Canada and Autism Alliance of Canada to develop, implement, and analyze the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment – a survey where respondents can share their experiences to help inform the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Through this partnership’s work, we expect to be a catalyst for meaningful enhancements to policy and programs across Canada, to better the quality of life for Autistic Canadians and their families during a time of uncertainty.”
Jill Farber // Executive Director // Autism Speaks Canada
The 2023 survey was recently launched and the data is being analyzed. Results from the 2020 survey are available.
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MacART at the 2023 Kids Brain Health Network Conference
MacART and colleagues attended the 2023 Kids Brain Health Network Conference that took place in Ottawa, Ontario. This year, our members contributed to a number of poster presentations and oral presentations. Dr. Peter Rosenbaum gave a keynote presentation titled “Childhood Disability in the 21st Century: Can We Create a Canadian Model for the World?”
Research
“Future research needs to focus not only on the biological markers of autism but also include data about functioning, participation, and environmental barriers and facilitators.”
Dr. Olaf Kraus de Camargo // Developmental Pediatrician
MacART is laying the foundation for creating a systematic way of linking scientific research on autism at McMaster University to clinical practice at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
The physical proximity of McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, and McMaster University has a number of characteristics that provides the rare opportunity for collaborative research. Taking advantage of existing university and clinical infrastructure and cross-appointments for clinicians at the university, autism experts from these organizations are coming together to integrate autism research into clinical practice.
The focus of MacART members’ research is in the areas of basic science, clinical practice, clinical research, epidemiology and statistical modelling, knowledge translation and exchange, and social science research. By promoting the collaboration of stakeholders across disciplines, MacART is reducing barriers to implementing research in clinical practice, with the goal of advancing autism care through meaningful research.
Learn more about our research HERE.
Education
MacART members are now supervising more than 50 research trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, and are engaged in the mentoring of junior and intermediate faculty members.
In the future, we intend to establish research and clinical training programs for students in McMaster’s undergraduate medical, health sciences, and psychology programs, and for residents and fellows in Pediatrics and Psychiatry.
By training and mentoring emerging researchers and practitioners, we will help to solidify their understanding of and commitment to using basic science to inform their clinical practice, and to use their clinical experience to help formulate research questions. It is our belief that involving these learners in MacART educational activities will promote their use of practices that advance autism care through meaningful research.
Community
“Our scientists are working collaboratively with local clinicians to generate the evidence needed to improve autism services. This symposium is a great example of McMaster’s community engagement efforts.”
Dr. Patrick Deane // President & Vice-Chancellor // McMaster University
The community engagement component of MacART strives to work with stakeholders and involve them as partners in every step of the research process. By doing so, the questions that drive research begin to change. They become more meaningful because they address the real day-to-day challenges faced by children and their families, and the clinicians supporting them.
MacART aims to increase participation and involvement of members of the McMaster and Hamilton communities in the research process. With community members driving the research, new and relevant knowledge can be produced to bridge the research-to-practice gap in autism and advance autism care through meaningful research.
Policy
“People whose lives are connected to the challenge of autism can share knowledge – from clinicians to educators to parents – and what an amazing opportunity that is. We have a real opportunity to translate challenges into research, and research into practice that will help families living with Autism.”
Rob MacIsaac // President & CEO // Hamilton Health Sciences
Policies should be created using the best available evidence that make positive impacts on the lives of Autistic individuals, along with their families.
MacART’s founder, Dr. Stelios Georgiades, serves on both federal and provincial advisory committees about Autism supports/service funding. Along with the wide-ranging expertise of its many autism experts, MacART is set to act as a highly credible source of evidence-based information to influence and inform public policy about the provision and funding of autism diagnosis, services, and family supports.
MacART will continue to find ways to collaborate with policymakers to both learn more about the policymaking process, and to contribute our expertise and knowledge to inform policymaking, in order to advance Autism care through meaningful research.
Recent News
MacART at the Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) Annual Conference – 2023
The Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) recently hosted their 14th annual conference in Ottawa, Ontario. This year’s theme was “Celebrating 14 years of helping kids live their best lives” and aimed to bring together attendees interested in neurodevelopmental disabilities. From October 21st to 24th, attendees participated in engaging discussions, learned from top experts in the
MacART at the Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) Annual Conference – 2023 Read More »
MacART at the Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) Annual Conference – 2023 Read More »
Meet the Recipients of the 2023 Martha and Vincent Wagar Intellectual Disability and Autism Research Fund Graduate Student Award!
We are pleased to introduce you to the three successful recipients of the 2023 Martha and Vincent Wagar Intellectual Disability and Autism Research Fund graduate student award! About the research fund: The Martha and Vincent Wagar Intellectual Disability and Autism Research Fund provides graduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences the opportunity to pursue leading-edge research,
2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey / Sondage de 2023 pour l’évaluation des besoins relatifs à l’autisme au Canada en période de pandémie
We invite autistic adults (18+ years) and caregivers of autistic children of any age to participate in the 2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey. This is a survey to better understand the evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on you and the services and supports you access. Purpose of the survey Participation This is an
About MacART
We are the McMaster Autism Research Team, a group of researchers, clinicians, clinician-scientists, and other experts who foster collaboration among the families, researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers whose lives and work are touched by Autism.
Our members are leading and participating in a variety of projects with provincial, national, and global impacts, aligning our work with the assessment report on Autism released by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2022, which aimed to inform development of a National Autism Strategy.
Our Membership
