With the participation of speakers from the following institutions:
Dr. Richard E. Frye Child
Neurologist & Autism Researcher
Dr. Richard E. Frye is a board-certified child neurologist and internationally recognized autism researcher with expertise in neurodevelopmental and neurometabolic disorders. He received his MD and PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and also holds an MS in Biomedical Science and Biostatistics from Drexel University. He completed residencies in Pediatrics and Child Neurology, as well as fellowships in Behavioral Neurology and Learning Disabilities at Harvard University/Children’s Hospital Boston and in Psychology at Boston University. Dr. Richard E. Frye, MD, PhD+1
Dr. Frye holds board certifications in Pediatrics and Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology and has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He serves on multiple editorial boards and is Editor-in-Chief for the Section on Mechanisms of Diseases for the Journal of Personalized Medicine. His research has focused on defining physiological abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — including metabolic, genetic, and mitochondrial mechanisms — and on developing targeted, mechanism-based interventions through clinical trials. Wikipedia+1
Dr. Frye has held leadership positions directing autism research programs and specialty clinics at major institutions, and currently contributes to neurodevelopmental precision medicine initiatives aimed at advancing personalized care for individuals with ASD and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Dr. Theoharis C. Theoharides
Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Immunology Executive Director, Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University
Dr. Theoharis C. Theoharides is an internationally recognized physician-scientist and immunologist whose work has been highly influential in the neuroimmune understanding of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. He completed his entire academic and medical training at Yale University, earning a BA, MS, MPhil, PhD, and MD, reflecting an interdisciplinary formation spanning biology, pharmacology, immunology, and medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Dr. Theoharides is currently Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Immunology and Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research at Nova Southeastern University. His pioneering research on mast cell biology, neuroinflammation, immune–brain interactions, and blood–brain barrier dysfunction has provided key mechanistic insights into inflammatory processes increasingly recognized in subsets of autistic individuals with complex neuroimmune phenotypes.
Dr. Jennifer Frankovich
MD, MS
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Jennifer Frankovich is a pediatric rheumatologist and Clinical Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. She completed her medical training and pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Stanford and holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Research.
Her academic and clinical work focuses on systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in children, particularly conditions with overlapping neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental features. She is internationally recognized for her contributions to understanding immune-mediated inflammation, post-infectious syndromes, arthritis, and chronic pain in pediatric populations, including autistic individuals with complex inflammatory presentations. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Dr. Prof James Adams
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Arizona State University
Prof. James B. Adams is a professor at Arizona State University and an internationally recognized researcher in autism spectrum disorder, with a particular focus on biomedical, nutritional, metabolic, and environmental factors. He holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering and has applied systems-based and analytical approaches to complex biomedical problems throughout his career.
Prof. Adams is the founder and director of the Autism/Asperger’s Research Program at Arizona State University, one of the longest-running university-based autism research programs dedicated to investigating treatable physiological abnormalities in ASD. His work has included studies on mitochondrial dysfunction, redox imbalance, nutritional status, toxicant exposure, gastrointestinal abnormalities, and microbiome-related factors in autistic individuals.
He has led and collaborated on numerous clinical trials and observational studies, authored a large number of peer-reviewed scientific publications, and co-edited books focused on the biological basis of autism and evidence-based interventions. His research is widely cited and has contributed to advancing biologically informed and clinically actionable models of autism care.
Tim Ubhi
Consultant Paediatrician
Dr. Tim Ubhi is a UK based Consultant Paediatrician with over 30 years of clinical experience in child health. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and has held senior leadership roles within both NHS and private healthcare settings.
Dr. Ubhi is internationally recognized as a leading clinician in Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) . He is the founder of The London PANS Clinic , a founding member of the UK PANS/PANDAS Physicians Network, and CEO of The Children’s e-Hospital. His work frequently involves autistic children presenting with acute regression or immune triggered neuropsychiatric deterioration.
Alberto Spalice
Associate Professor of Pediatrics Pediatric Neurologist, Sapienza University of Rome
Dr. Alberto Spalice is a pediatric neurologist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Sapienza University of Rome, where he also serves as Director of the Pediatric Neurology Unit at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital. He completed his medical training and specialization in pediatrics and pediatric neurology in Italy and holds additional postgraduate training in pediatric immunology.
His clinical and academic work focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, epilepsy, and complex pediatric neurological conditions. He is recognized for his interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of children with neurological disorders and significant medical comorbidities.
Madeleine W. Cunningham
George Lyn Cross Research Professor of Autoinmmunity and Infection University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Dr. Madeleine Cunningham is a distinguished immunologist and microbiologist recognized internationally for her work on autoimmunity, molecular mimicry, and infection-triggered immune responses. She holds the George Lynn Cross Research Professorship at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Her research has been foundational in elucidating antibody mediated mechanisms affecting brain function, particularly in post infectious neuroimmune conditions such as PANDAS and PANS
which have relevance forsubsets of individuals on the autism spectrum. She has published extensively in high impact peer-reviewed journals and is widely cited for her contributions to neuroimmunology.
Sara Andrea Setti
Neurologist
Dr. Sara Andrea Setti is a medical doctor specialized in Clinical Neurology, having completed her medical degree at the National University of Rosario (Argentina). Her clinical training includes work in neurology and neuropsychiatry, with a focus on cognitive disorders, neurodevelopment, and complex neurological presentations.
Her professional work integrates conventional neurology with precision medicine perspectives, emphasizing brain function and the influence of systemic factors on neurological health. She has broad clinical experience in the assessment and management of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum conditions, particularly in patients presenting with multisystem involvement and medically complex profiles.
José María Martínez-Sánchez
Epidemiologist & Biostatistician
Dr. José María Martínez Sánchez is an epidemiologist and biostatistician with a PhD in Public Health and extensive experience in clinical research methodology, study design, and statistical analysis. He has developed his academic career at leading research institutions and has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications.
His expertise includes epidemiological modeling, analysis of complex clinical datasets, and the translation of clinical questions into robust, publishable research studies across multiple medical disciplines.
Cristina Lidon
Epidemiologist & Biostatistician
Dr. Cristina Lidón-Moyano is an adjunct professor at the International University of Catalonia, specializing in Epidemiology, Public Health, and Statistics. She holds a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Public Health from the International University of Catalonia, with postdoctoral research at the University of California, Merced. With over 10 years of experience in epidemiology and public health, her research focuses on addiction, mental health, tobacco control, and screen exposure in children. She leads several doctoral theses and is currently studying the vulnerability of homeless women in terms of addiction and mental health.
Claudia Brogna
Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatrist
Dr. Claudia Brogna is a medical doctor specialized in Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, with clinical and academic expertise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Her professional activity is centered on the assessment and longitudinal management of children and adolescents with autism, including individuals with complex developmental and behavioral profiles.
Dritan Agalliu
Associate Professor of Pathology & Cell Biology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Dr. Dritan Agalliu is a neuroscientist and immunologist whose research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and its role in neuroinflammatory and neurodevelopmental disorders. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Dr. Agalliu’s work has been particularly influential in elucidating how immune signaling, endothelial dysfunction, and BBB permeability contribute to brain inflammation. His laboratory has published key studies demonstrating BBB disruption and immune-mediated vascular changes in PANS/PANDAS, providing mechanistic insight into how peripheral immune activation can lead to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental symptoms.
His research integrates vascular biology, neuroimmunology, and developmental neuroscience, and has clear relevance for autism spectrum disorder, especially in subgroups where immune dysregulation and blood–brain barrier alterations are implicated. Dr. Agalliu has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and is widely recognized for advancing the understanding of BBB pathology in immune-mediated brain disorders.
Her work places particular emphasis on early diagnosis, developmental trajectories, and individualized clinical evaluation, integrating neuropsychiatric assessment with multidisciplinary approaches. Dr. Brogna has contributed to clinical practice and professional education in the field of autism and is regularly involved in scientific meetings and training initiatives focused on ASD across childhood and adolescence.
Inês Mazagão
Clinical Nutritionist | Neurodevelopment & Sleep Medicine
Inês Mazagão is a clinical nutritionist specialized in neurodevelopment, gut–brain axis modulation, and sleep-related metabolic and hormonal disorders, with a particular focus on conditions relevant to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is recognized for her ability to translate complex clinical concepts into clear, practical strategies that support patients, families, and multidisciplinary medical teams.
Her practice follows a precision medicine approach, addressing gastrointestinal dysfunctions, sleep disturbances, and metabolic imbalances that may impact neurological development and quality of life.
Antonella
MD, Phd
Antonella Gagliano is a medical doctor, specialist in Child Neuropsychiatry and PhD in Neuropsychopathology of developmental learning processes “. She is author of numerous scientific publications, in international and national journals, concerning different topics related to her discipline. She has gained a long clinical and research experience on neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental psychopathology. She was responsible for the Sicilian Regional Reference Center for ADHD, Autism and SLD. She directed the Complex Operational Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry of the University Hospital Policlinico “G. Martino” of Messina and the Degree Course in Neuro and Psychomotor Therapy at the University of Messina. From November 2018 to April 2022, she was Associate Professor of Child Neuropsychiatry at the University of Cagliari and practiced her clinical activity at the pediatric division hospital in Cagliari. Since March 2025, is Full Professor of Child Neuropsychiatry at the University of Enna and Director of the IRCCS-OC Neuropsychiatry Unit of the Oasi Maria SS. ONLUS
Association, Troina (EN).
Alison Singer
Co-Founder and President / Board Member
As the mother of a 28-year-old daughter with autism and legal guardian of her older brother with autism, Alison is a natural advocate. She served on the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) for 12 years, where she chaired the Safety and Housing Workgroups, and served on the subcommittee responsible for writing an annual strategic plan to guide federal spending for autism research. Alison currently serves on the executive boards of the Yale Child Study Center, the Seaver Autism Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, and the University of North Carolina Autism Research Center, as well as on the external advisory board of the CDC’s Center for Developmental Disabilities, and the New York State Immunization Advisory Committee.
In addition, Alison serves on the board of directors of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) and chairs the INSAR Communications Committee. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics named her an “autism champion.” In 2017 she received the INSAR “Outstanding Research Advocate” award and in 2018 she received the New York Families for Autistic Children Research Advocacy Award.
Prior to founding the Autism Science Foundation in 2009, she served as executive vice president of Autism Speaks and as a vice president at NBC. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a B.A. in Economics and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2020, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Emory University.
In 2018 she was elected to serve on the Board of Education of the Scarsdale Union Free Public School district and in 2020 was elected Vice President of the BOE.
Francisco Carratalá Marco
Unidad de Neuropediatría
Hospital Universitario de San Juan de Alicante
Universidad Miguel Hernández – Facultad de Medicina
San Juan de Alicante, España
Dr. Francisco Carratalá-Marco is a senior paediatric neurologist and Head of the Neuropaediatric Unit at the Hospital Universitario de San Juan de Alicante, and Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the Universidad Miguel Hernández.
His clinical and research work focuses on complex neurodevelopmental disorders, with particular expertise in autism spectrum disorder with epilepsy, neonatal brain injury, and neurodevelopmental genetics. He has extensive experience managing children with severe autism, neurological comorbidity, and early-life brain insults that shape long-term developmental trajectories.
Dr. Carratalá-Marco is a former President of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Neurology (SENEP) and a past board member of the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS). He has authored more than 50 scientific publications and has played a key role in advancing clinical and translational approaches to autism-related neurological complexity.
Sarah Donald
Sheila Coates Foundation Research Fellow
Autism Centre for Education Research
Dr. Sarah Donald is an education researcher whose work focuses on autism, complex support needs, intellectual disability, and inclusive research practices. Her research interests include language and communication, participatory methodologies, research culture and ethics, marginalised groups, and Special Educational Needs.
She holds a PhD in Psychology from City University London, where her doctoral research employed participatory methods to develop more accessible and inclusive research practices for autistic people who are minimally verbal and/or have intellectual disabilities. She also holds an MSc in Speech, Language and Communication in Schools, a PGCE in Primary Education, and a BA (Hons) in Russian and History.
Dr. Donald has extensive professional experience across the education sector, including senior teaching roles in mainstream primary schools, specialist SEN settings, and higher education institutions involved in initial teacher training. She has also worked as a local authority specialist education advisor and is a long-standing school governor.
Currently, as the Sheila Coates Foundation Research Fellow at the Autism Centre for Education Research, she is leading a project examining the impact of sensory and safe spaces in mainstream secondary schools to better support autistic learners. She has also contributed as a Research Associate to an NIHR Applied Research Collaboration project developing a co-production community of practice to improve diversity in applied health research, and has recently been awarded QR research funding to lead a participatory study exploring young autistic people’s lived experiences of education.