“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.
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.
“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.
“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.
Learn more about our research HERE.
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.
“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.
“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.
Basic science research is intended to result in a gain in knowledge in a particular field, which extends understanding of that topic and provides a way of solving practical problems. One example might be how brain cells communicate with each other in Autistic persons.
Roles & Affiliations: Research Associate and Assistant Professor (Part-Time), Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University Membership Type: Core Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting January 2026 for undergraduate students for full supervision, and graduate students for co-supervision. If interested, please connect with Dr. Elyse Rosa. PubMedMcMaster Experts Bio Bio Dr. Elyse Rosa is a Research
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available for students interested in getting involved. If interested, please connect with Dr. Cannon. ORCiDMcMaster ExpertsPubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Jonathan Cannon is an Assistant Professor in the McMaster department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. His investigation into
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University Membership Type: Core Member Supervisorship Status: Currently not accepting applications for supervised research in the laboratory for both undergraduate and graduate students. Lab WebsiteORCiDMcMaster ExpertsPubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Katrina Choe is a neuroscientist who investigates mechanisms by which autism gene mutations disrupt
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor (Part-Time), Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University;Research Associate at Autism Alliance of Canada Membership Type: Core Member Supervisorship Status: General volunteer opportunities (any student level) are available now and am open to supervising undergraduate-only thesis projects starting in September 2026. If interested, please connect with Dr. Mackenzie Salt. ORCiDMcMaster
Roles & Affiliations: Clinical Director, MiCare Extensive Needs and Psychologist at McMaster Children’s Hospital Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. PubMed Bio Bio Dr. Irene Drmic is a Psychologist at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre in the Autism Program and Child and Youth Mental Health Program. Her clinical and research
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor (Part-Time), Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting September 2026: Volunteers could be involved in work related to community outreach and co-ordinating professional speaker series. Psychology practicum students and psychologists on supervised practice are also considered for clinical work. For clinical work,
Roles & Affiliations: Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON;Professor Emeritus, Psychiatry, University of Toronto Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. McMaster ExpertsPubMed Bio Bio Dr. Peter Szatmari is a clinician-scientist and an international autism expert. He has made significant contributions to the field in many areas including
Dr. Karun Singh is a neuroscientist and stem cell biologist studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autism. He is using a combination of mouse models and human brain cells to understand how genetic risk factors impact brain development.
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Psychology at Redeemer University; Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct), Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting May 2026 for preferably graduate students, but undergraduate students will also be considered. If interested, please connect with Dr. Diana Parvinchi. ORCiDMcMaster ExpertsGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Diana Parvinchi
Dr. Geoffrey Hall is an Associate Professor with the Department of Psychology, Behaviour and Neuroscience at McMaster University. Dr. Hall is interested in developing better classification metrics for autism by understanding how genetic factors can produce changes at the level of the synapse and impact on neurodevelopmental trajectories.
