“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.
Clinical practice refers to the activities carried out in a medical setting with practitioners’ patients. Some of these are based on guidelines that specify how diagnosis and treatment should be carried out in a particular condition. Clear and strict guidelines around Autism diagnosis ensures that the proper support and care needs of Autistic individuals are provided.
Dr. Jeffrey Esteves is a MacART trainee under the clinical supervision of Dr. Rebecca Shine. He is a psychologist in supervised practice at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre in the Autism Program. His clinical and research interests include augmentative and alternative communication systems, as well as best practices in the assessment and treatment of
Maya Albin is a MacART trainee. She is a speech-language pathologist and PhD student at McMaster University’s School of Rehabilitation Science, under the supervision of Dr. Michelle Phoenix. Maya’s research focuses on co-creating improved supports for, and with, Autistic youth and their communication partners. Her work also focuses on creating culturally responsive speech-language pathology services,
Karen Margallo is the Director for Child & Youth Ambulatory Services at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences and Site Administrator for the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre. She is responsible for the majority of pediatric medicine/surgical clinics located at the McMaster University Medical Centre site. Within the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre, her portfolio
Dr. Elisabetta Trinari is a Developmental Pediatrician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, at McMaster University. She holds a master’s in Health Research Methodology and her clinical and research interests are evidence synthesis and clinical trials in autism, patients with dual diagnosis, and neurogenetic syndromes associated with developmental disabilities.
Dr. Rebecca Shine is a Clinical Psychologist at McMaster Children’s Hospital’s Autism Program. Her clinical and research interests include the mental health of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, program development and evaluation, and treatment outcomes.
Holly Augerman is the Director of Child and Youth Mental Health and Autism Services at McMaster Children’s Hospital. She is interested in evidence based supports for autism and engagement with families and those with lived experience to inform the development of policy and programs.
Dr. Olivia Ng is the Clinical Director of the Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital and serves as Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. Her clinical and research interests are in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodevelopmental differences (including Autistic children), program evaluation and
Alina Kislenko is an Autistic psychotherapist who runs The ADHD & Spectrum Centres in Guelph and Ottawa (with an all-neurodivergent practitioner team). She is also an Assistant Clinical Adjunct Professor at Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Alina’s special interests are ADHD, Autism, Giftedness, and Psychopathy.
Dr. Julia Frei is a Developmental Pediatrician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University. Her clinical and research interests include dual diagnosis and disadvantaged populations. She is the Site Qualified Investigator for an international multi-site randomized controlled trial of Arbaclofen as part of a support and care plan for Autistic persons.
Lorraine Hoult is a Clinical Psychometrist at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre in the Autism Program. Her clinical and research interests include genetics of autism, predictors of treatment response and outcome, risks of premature birth, provincial and federal policies, autism program development and evaluation.
