“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.
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.
“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.
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.
From May 31 – June 2, 2026, Children’s Healthcare Canada held their annual conference in Calgary, Alberta around the theme, “Tomorrow’s Promise, Today’s Plan: Transforming Children’s Healthcare in Canada”. Areas of focus included building learning health systems that translate evidence into action, advancing equity in AI and data innovation, and strenghtening cross-sector collaboration. MacART members
From April 22-25, 2026, the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) gathered in Prague, Czech Republic for the 2026 meeting. This year, more than 2400 people from 75 countries registered to gather to share and collaborate under this mission and attend the conference. MacART members attended the 2026 INSAR, engaging in another wonderful opportunity to
From April 14-16, 2026, Autism Alliance of Canada hosted their 12th annual Canadian Autism Leadership Summit (CALS) in Ottawa, Ontario and via livestream. This year’s Summit included a one day symposium on artificial intelligence (AI) and autism innovation, and attracted more than 300 attendees. The Summit brought together Autistic self-advocates, researchers, politicians, service providers, and policymakers
On April 1, 2026, more than 500 researchers, students, clinicians, scientists, educators, family partners, and community partners & organizations gathered at McMaster University to commemorate ongoing research projects. A grand total of 200 child health research studies were presented at this annual event, spanning a diverse range of topics spanning pediatrics to engineering. MacART members
April 2nd is World Autism Day, and the beginning of World Autism Month, when we highlight the continued need for active inclusion of Autistic people in developing research, policies, and supports for more than 75 million Autistic people across the world. One in 50 Canadian children and youth between ages 1 to 17 are Autistic,
In October 2025, the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) selected “Early-Onset Trajectories of Emotional Dysregulation in Autistic Children”, a publication involving MacART members Terry Bennett, Eric Duku, Stelios Georgiades, and Peter Szatmari, to be featured as part of their Journal Club. The Journal Club program was designed to promote
On September 4, 2025, The Royal Society of Canada released the names of the 2025 incoming class of the College of the Royal Society of Canada. MacART Co-Director and Founder Dr. Stelios Georgiades will be inducted as a Member of this College! The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists is Canada’s first national system
On July 1, 2025, MacART Co-Director Dr. Stelios Georgiades was among eight McMaster University professors to be named a 2025 University Scholar! University Scholars are mid-career researchers who have distinguished themselves as international scholars and have demonstrated a commitment to the discovery, communication and preservation of knowledge, excellence in education and pedagogy, and to serving
On June 24, 2025, a publication was released in the journal BMJ Open titled “Prevalence of autism among adults in Canada: results from a simulation modelling study”, with MacART Co-Director Dr. Stelios Georgiades and MacART member Dr. Mackenzie Salt among the co-authors. This publication estimates the prevalence of autism among adults living in Canada using
MacART is thrilled to share that on June 30, 2025, MacART member Dr. Peter Rosenbaum was named to the Order of Canada for his transformative contributions to the field of childhood disability! The Order of Canada is Canada’s highest civilian honour that recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication, and service by individuals whose service has shaped the nation in lasting ways. Among Peter’s
