“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.
Epidemiology is the study of how many people in a given population have a specific condition, what factors are related to its cause, and what treats or controls it. A statistical model is a representation of reality using numbers and other data derived from research. Models can be used to simulate reality. By changing a model using different characteristics, different outcomes for Autistic children could be predicted.
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at McMaster University; Developmental Pediatrician at McMaster Children’s Hospital Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting September 2026 for graduate students. Must reach out by July 2026. If interested, please connect with Dr. Elisabetta Trinari. McMaster ExpertsPubMed Bio Bio Dr. Elisabetta Trinari is a Developmental Pediatrician and Assistant
Roles & Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy & Graduate Institute of Behavioural Sciences at Chang-Gung University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available for Master’s students in the Occupational Therapy program at Chang Gung University in Taiwan starting in September 2026. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to PARC-related data collection, gain hands-on experience
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.
Roles & Affiliations: Senior Epidemiologist at Public Health Agency of Canada;Assistant Professor (Part-Time), Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. McMaster ExpertsPubMed Bio Bio Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua was a MacART trainee during her doctoral studies at McMaster University. She completed her PhD in
Roles & Affiliations: Professor, Mathematics and Statistics at McMaster University Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting Fall 2026 for graduate students. Dr. McNicholas does not take volunteers; he supervises mostly graduate students with a background in statistics who are interested in the development and implementation of new approaches. “Please note that I receive
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
Roles & Affiliations: Associate Professor (Part-Time), Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University Membership Type: Core Member Supervisorship Status: Not currently accepting students/volunteers. ORCiDMcMaster ExpertsPubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Eric Duku is a Research Methodologist, and a member of the Equity From The Start team in the Offord Centre for Child Studies. Eric has expertise
Dr. Joseph Beyene’s interests are in the areas of systematic reviews/meta-analyses, predictive modelling, health technology assessment, and clinical research. Additionally, he is highly interested in exploring the genetic factors relevant to illness and behaviour. His current work focuses on applications of statistical techniques in genetics, pediatric early warning systems, pain management in infants at risk
Roles & Affiliations: Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University;Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at McMaster Children’s Hospital Membership Type: Core Member Supervisorship Status: Available starting February 2026; looking for undergraduate thesis students (in the Faculty of Health Sciences only). Depending on availability; typically recruit in February for undergrad thesis or practicum opportunities, as
