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 share research with attendees across the world and collaborate to find new directions.
This year, MacART members contributed to 13 posters and presentations (the program can be found HERE):
PANEL: Characterization of Sensory Processing in Autism Spectrum Condition:
- (201.004) The Neurobiology of Sensory Phenotypes in Autism
- Including Dr. Stelios Georgiades
ORAL PRESENTATION: Efficacy and Mechanisms in Early Intervention Trials
- (311.002) Efficacy of a Self-Directed Parent-Mediated Intervention Program for Autistic Children in Taiwan: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Including Dr. Yun-Ju (Claire) Chen
- (406.405) Individual and Contextual Predictors of Parent-Youth Perceptions of Self-Determination in Autistic Adolescents
- (409.529) Mapping Resting-State Functional Connectivity Linking Dysregulation and Social Adaptive Skills in Young People with Neurodevelopmental Conditions and Typical Development
- Including Dr. Stelios Georgiades
- (412.091) Examining Sociodemographic Predictors of Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviours in Neurodivergent Children
- Including Dr. Julia Frei & Dr. Elisabetta Trinari
- (412.096) Factors Associated with Attrition for Families Enrolled in a Prospective Longitudinal Study of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Including Dr. Peter Szatmari
- (416.177) Co-Creating the Canadian Neurodevelopmental Research Training Platform Curriculum: Outcomes and Insights from a Co-Design Process
- Including Dr. Michelle Phoenix
- (416.199) From Awareness to Belonging: Examining the Impact of the Empowering Neurodivergence Speaker Series on Neuroinclusive Culture
- Including Dr. Briano Di Rezze and Dr. Vivian Lee
- (418.248) Co-Designing the SNAP-A Program: A Participatory Approach to Developing a Neuro-Affirming, Strength-Based Program for Autistic Children with Challenging Behaviours and Their Families, by Dr. Vivian Lee
- (427.079) Sex-Specific Associations Among Sensory Features, Behavioral Inflexibility, and Emotional-Behavioral Challenges in Autistic Children, by Dr. Yun-Ju (Claire) Chen
- Including Dr. Eric Duku, Dr. Stelios Georgiades, Dr. Caroline Roncadin
- This abstract used PARC Study data! Congratulations to Dr. Chen for this abstract being given one of the ‘top-rated abstract’ honours from INSAR.
- (430.212) Urban-Rural Differences and Sex-Specific Cognitive Effects on Autism Symptom Trajectories: A Longitudinal Study of Autistic Children in Taiwan, by Dr. Yun-Ju (Claire) Chen
- (436.458) When the World Feels Too Much: Internal and External Moderators of Sensory Influences on University Belonging in Autistic Students
- Including Dr. Briano Di Rezze
- (439.161) The Moderating Effect of Social Skills on Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life in Autistic Adolescents
- Including Dr. Julia Frei, Dr. Stelios Georgiades, and Dr. Elisabetta Trinari
(Click on any image to enlarge.)
Melissa Susko and Dr. Elizabeth Kelley from Queen’s University; Jessica Remedios, Renee Baysarowich, and Ivana Dewi from CHEO; MacART associate member Dr. Vivian Lee from Carleton University/CHEO, and MacART associate member Dr. Yun-Ju (Claire) Chen from Chang-Gung University.