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 policy and practice 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 policy and practice 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 // Former President & Vice-Chancellor // McMaster University
The community engagement component of MacART endeavours to work with Autistic and community collaborators and involve them in 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 policy and practice 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 // Former 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 policy and practice through meaningful research.
-
The McMaster Autism Research Team supports responsible use of Autism data
Dr. Deepa Singal is the Scientific Director at the Autism Alliance of Canada and an Adjunct Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Alberta and Scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. She is an award-winning researcher who shared an editorial exploring the importance of Autism data to improve the lives of Autistic people and their loved ones.
MacART is proud of our partnership with Autism Alliance of Canada and stands in solidarity with this statement.
-
MacART at Canadian Autism Leadership Summit (CALS) 2025
MacART members attended the 2025 Canadian Autism Leadership Summit annual meeting in Ottawa, Ontario.
This year, our members contributed to a number of panel and poster presentations.
-
MacART at the 2025 Children’s Healthcare Canada Annual Conference
MacART and colleagues attended the 2025 Children’s Healthcare Canada Annual Conference that took place in Ottawa, Ontario. This year, our members contributed to a number of oral presentations.
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 policy and practice 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 policy and practice 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 // Former President & Vice-Chancellor // McMaster University
The community engagement component of MacART endeavours to work with Autistic and community collaborators and involve them in 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 policy and practice 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 // Former 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 policy and practice through meaningful research.
Recent News
“Methodological challenges and opportunities when studying the course of autism”, a publication with Drs. Peter Szatmari, Stephen Gentles, and Stelios Georgiades
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, a publication was released in the journal Autism, with MacART members Dr. Peter Szatmari, Dr. Stephen Gentles, and our Co-Director Dr. Stelios Georgiades among the co-authors. This publication outlines learnings from longitudinal studies in autism over decades of advancements in study design for this field. Dr. Stephen Gentles shared a
MacART at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Meeting – 2025
From April 30-May 3, 2025, the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) gathered in Seattle, Washington, USA for the 2025 meeting. This year, more than 2000 people from over 40 countries registered to gather to share and collaborate under this mission and attend the conference. MacART members attended the 2025 INSAR, engaging in another wonderful
MacART at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Meeting – 2025 Read More »
MacART at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Meeting – 2025 Read More »
MacART supports Dr. Deepa Singal’s advocacy for responsible use of autism data
On April 29, 2025, Dr. Deepa Singal, the Scientific Director at Autism Alliance of Canada, one of our close partners/collaborators, released an eloquent editorial speaking to the reignited polarized conversations about the rising prevalence of autism spurred by recent United States headlines. MacART is proud to be in partnership with Autism Alliance of Canada, and
MacART supports Dr. Deepa Singal’s advocacy for responsible use of autism data Read More »
MacART supports Dr. Deepa Singal’s advocacy for responsible use of autism data Read More »
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
