“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.
Knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) is a collaborative process. The goal of MacART’s KTE core is to involve all stakeholders in each step of the research cycle. Community members have been asking for research that addresses their real-world problems and MacART is committed to responding to their ask. Findings of research will be shared with parents, Autistic persons, other researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers through consultation, conferences, and our website. This KTE process aims to advance autism care through meaningful research by encouraging the use of evidence to inform clinical practice and policy.
Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. PubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Karen Margallo is the Director for Child & Family Community Integrated Care at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) and Site Administrator for the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre. Her role focuses on working in partnership at the local, regional and provincial levels
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 Associate at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University, and Assistant Professor (Part-Time) in
Membership Type: Trainee Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. Google Scholar Bio Bio Karen Joseph is a MacART trainee and PhD student in Kinesiology at McMaster University, supervised by Dr. Jennifer Heisz. Her research examines how lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, sleep, and physical activity, intersect with psychological functioning in aging Autistic adults. Through
Membership Type: Trainee Member Supervisorship Status: Open availability, preferably for students with some prior research experience and at Master’s or undergraduate level: “I am open to connecting with students who share similar research interests to me. I do not have specific opportunities at this time but am happy to hear about their interests and what
Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. Bio Bio Holly Augerman is the Director of Child and Youth Mental Health and Autism Services at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Her portfolio includes Acute CYMH services located at the McMaster University Medical Centre site which includes a 22 bed inpatient unit, mental health assessment unit,
Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Not available for supervision. McMaster ExpertsPubMed Bio Bio Dr. Olivia Ng is the Clinical Director of the Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital/Hamilton Health Sciences and serves as Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. She received her doctoral
Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Available any time: “We would love help with our research in admin and outreach and research students to help with the research itself. Also with making media connections and getting funding.” If interested, please connect with Dr. Matthew Goetz. McMaster Experts Bio Bio Alina Kislenko is an ADHD &
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 ExpertsPubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Mackenzie Salt is a Research Associate at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at
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.
Membership Type: Associate Member Supervisorship Status: Unknown supervision availability ORCiDUCalgary ProfilePubMedGoogle Scholar Bio Bio Dr. Linda Nguyen is an Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Youth, Sibling, and Community Engaged Research in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She aims to engage with interested parties (including youth, siblings, families, healthcare professionals, civil
