Scientific Advisors to Research Autism
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen
Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge (www.autismresearchcentre.com).
I hold degrees in Human Sciences from New College, Oxford, a PhD in Psychology from UCL, and an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry. I held lectureships in both of these departments in London before moving to Cambridge in 1994.
I am author of Mindblindness (MIT Press, 1995), The Essential Difference (Penguin UK/Basic Books, 2003), Prenatal Testosterone in Mind (MIT Press, 2005) and Zero Degrees of Empathy (Penguin UK/Basic Books, 2011). I have edited a number of scholarly anthologies, including Understanding Other Minds (OUP, 1993, 2001), The Maladapted Mind (Erlbaum, 1997) and Synaesthesia (Blackwells, 1997). I have also written books for parents and teachers such as Autism and Asperger Syndrome: The Facts (OUP, 2008), and Teaching children with autism to mind read (Wiley, 1998). I am author of the DVD-ROM Mind Reading: an interactive guide to emotions (Jessica Kingsley Ltd, 2003) and The Transporters (www.thetransporters.com, 2007), an animation for preschool children with autism to help them learn emotion recognition. Both of these were nominated for BAFTA awards.
I have been awarded prizes from the American Psychological Association, the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA), and the British Psychological Society (BPS) for my research into autism. For 2007 I was President of the Psychology Section of the BA, Vice President of the National Autistic Society, and received the 2006 Presidents’ Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge from the BPS. For 2009 I am Vice President of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR). I am Patron or Vice President of several autism and disability charities (including Autism Anglia, Autism Yorkshire, and Speaking Up). I am a Fellow of the BPS and the British Academy, and co-editor in chief of the new journal Molecular Autism. My current research is testing the ‘extreme male brain’ theory of autism at the neural, endocrine and genetic levels.
Professor Terry Brugha
Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Research, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester and Honorary Consultant Adult General Psychiatrist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.
I operate an NHS assessment clinic for adults who may have Autism Spectrum Disorder and liaise with adult mental health services throughout Leicester and Leicestershire, also providing training to professional staff and teams.
My area of research is psychiatric epidemiology and I am currently developing and testing methods for studying ASD in adult populations throughout England.
I am Associate Editor, Psychological Medicine (Cambridge University Press) and Member National Autistic Society Standards Group.
Professor Tony Charman
Chair in Clinical Child Psychology, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry
My main research interest is the investigation of early social cognitive development in children with autism and the clinical application of this work via screening, early diagnosis, early intervention and epidemiological studies. My work has been funded by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, the Department of Health and a number of UK and USA charities.
I am Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Associate Editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and on the Editorial/Advisory Boards of Autism, British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research and Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. I have served on a number of expert panels for the Medical Research Council in the UK and NIH/CDC in the USA.
I am a scientific member of the Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism and have worked closely with the National Autistic Society, Treehouse (formerly Parents’ Autism Campaign for Education) and Autism Speaks (formerly National Alliance for Autism Research) to advocate for services and positive policy development for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
Laura Cockburn
Senior Educational Psychologist in Haringey, Academic and Professional Tutor at UEL.
I currently work in Haringey as a Senior EP and specialise in working with children and young people with autism. I work closely together with Haringey Autism, the local parent suport group in different projects. I supported them in setting up a specialist football club for children with autism (sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur and Mencap).
Together with others, I recently set up a national support group for EPs specialising in autism and this is now linked with Senjit at the Institute of Education.
I will be joining UEL in September 2008 to be an academic and professional tutor for the EP doctoral training course. I am currently completing my Doctorate.
I spent 10 years working in Singapore (1992 – 2002) where I worked collaboratively with professionals from South East Asia and the NAS to develop services for children with autism.
Dr. Juli Crocombe
I am a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist for People with a Learning Disability and I am based in South Staffordshire. I am Responsible Clinician for Ellesmere House, a Low Secure Unit for people with a Learning Disability and / or Autistic Spectrum Condition. I have worked intensively with people with ASC who present with severely challenging and/or offending behaviour for over 10 years.
My research interest lies in developing our understanding of what leads people with ASC to offend, and establishing how to use this knowledge to reduce the likelihood of such offending. Together with Dr Lorna Wing and Mr Richard Mills of the NAS, I have completed a study to establish the prevalence of ASC at Broadmoor Hospital.
For many years I have worked very closely with the NAS in a consultative role around such issues as Mental Health Law, Policy and Practice, Mental Health Issues and Medication Issues and have advised Government on these issues on behalf of the NAS. I also assist the NAS in providing training for professionals and carers, and am a member of the editorial board for the NAS’s Annual Professional Conference.
National roles include:
- Chair of the Health working group of the DoH External Reference Group for the development and implementation of a National Strategy for Adults with ASC;
- member of the DoH Working Group to redefine the Definition Set for Specialist Commissioning of services for people with ASC;
- member of the Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group on ASC;
- member of the Scientific and Advisory Committee of Research Autism, a National Charity that supports and funds research into effective interventions in ASC and independently reviews the currently available evidence;
- member of the NICE Clinical Guideline Development Group for ASC in Adults
I am a Senior Lecturer at Keele University and am committed to educating tomorrow’s doctors about ASD.
Professor Chris Cullen
Professor of Clinical Psychology at Keele University, and Clinical Director for Psychological Services in North Staffordshire.
I have been a Fellow of the British Psychological Society since 1983, and I am a past President of both the British Psychological Society and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
My research interests are broadly in the field of applied behaviour analysis, although I have also carried out research in staff training, sexual abuse, and deinstitutionalisation. My clinical work is influenced by the idea of acceptance, best illustrated by the old prayer “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference”.
I believe that it is essential to explore and promote evidence based approaches to improving the quality of life of families and people on the spectrum.
Why we need the Research Autism website
David Ellis
Advisor on Social Care Issues
Background in Mental Health Social Work, Family Therapy, Social Services management, Social Services Inspection, Civil Service Disability Policy.
Retired in 2005 from Social Care Institute for Excellence from post of Principal Advisor Adult Services.
Dr Dido Green, PhD
Reader in Rehabilitation, Oxford Brookes University
As an Occupational Therapist I worked within the multidisciplinary service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust for 15 years before moving into academia to expand research in rehabilitation.
My current research interests focus on neurodisability and the neuroplasticity of sensory and motor learning and behaviour. Identification of factors contributing to outcome and predictive modelling of response to treatment are important components of my work.
I am the Allied Health Professions Occupational Therapy Expert Representative to the Department of Health for Children with Learning Disabilities and represent the College of Occupational Therapists on issues for children with neurodisabilities.
Dr. Jacqui Jackson
Scientific Advisor Research Autism
As a parent of 7 children, 5 with a range of differences including autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, dyspraxia and dyslexia, I am acutely aware of the need for ongoing research, not only into the causes of these conditions, but also into interventions that can make a real difference to the lives of people with an ASD and their families.
I have a 1st Class (hons) degree in social policy and subsequent postgraduate qualifications in special educational needs. I have just completed a PhD, researching into sensory differences and design for children with an ASD.
I am a consultant for the Centre for the Development of Autism Practice (CDAP) where along with others I provide workshops and training on a variety of issues surrounding ASD, my particularly area of specialty being sensory differences.
I wrote ‘Multicoloured Mayhem’ – a parents’ guide to the many differences experienced in our household. The publicity surrounding this inspired the BBC to make a documentary about us (My Family and Autism) and subsequently a drama (Magnificent 7).
I work closely with the National Autistic Society, to raise awareness and advocate for changes both in service and policy for children and adults with an ASD and their families.
Why we need the Research Autism website
Professor Ann LeCouteur
Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Newcastle University
I work within a multidisciplinary clinical academic team that provides specialist clinical services for children and young people with complex neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
My Current research interests include the aetiology of ASD; evaluation of interventions for children and families; and the promotion of models of assessments and treatment.
I chaired the work of a national working party that led to the publication of The National Autism Plan for Children (2003. I am involved with a number of UK charities for children and young people with complex needs.
Damian Milton
Autism Consultant
Damian is currently studying for a doctorate with the Autism Centre for Educational Research at the University of Birmingham. He is a member of the steering group for this department, and a member of the programme board for the Autism Education Trust.
Damian has a number of academic qualifications in Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy and Education and a number of years experience as a lecturer in both FE and HE. Damian also regularly presents papers at academic conferences, and is on the editorial board of two academic journals regarding autism. He has also started work as a lead consultant for the NAS Ask Autism project.
Damian’s interest in autism began when his son was diagnosed in 2004 with autism at the age of two. Damian was also diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2009 at the age of thirty-six.
Dr. Jamie Nicholls MBBS DRCOG
Retired General Practitioner
I have been a general practitioner in Hockley, Essex since 1979. Since 1994 I have also been GP Tutor for Southend-on-Sea district. I am responsible for arranging much of the continuing medical education for the GPs in my area, and have used this network to attempt to increase the awareness of Autistic Spectrum Disorders amongst my medical colleagues locally and nationally.
I have been a Councillor with the National Autistic Society for many years, and have served as a Board member. I am also a trustee with the Inge Wakehurst Trust which contributed to the foundation of Research Autism.
I have a son with autism, born in 1980, who spent most of his school years at NAS schools, and now lives in a sheltered community for people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Kent, where he works productively on a farm.
My involvement in Research Autism comes from a need to increase the awareness of Autistic Spectrum Disorders in primary care. As this provides the first rung on the ladder towards diagnosis and beyond, it is essential that practitioners are familiar with it.
Why we need the Research Autism website
Dr. Jeremy Parr
Clinical Senior Lecturer/Hon Consultant, Newcastle University
I am a Paediatric Neurodisability clinical academic with wide ranging research interests in the Neurodisability field, including investigating the neurobiological basis of disabilities, carrying out intervention studies to ameliorate disability, and undertaking research into clinical service delivery.
I am a Trustee and Co-Chair of the Research Autism Scientific Advisory Committee, as well as a Member of the Executive Committee of the British Academy of Childhood Disability, and Chair of the British Academy of Childhood Disability Strategic Research Group .
Dr. Liz Pellicano
Reader in Developmental Cognitive Science and Director of the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) at the Institute of Education, University of London.
My current research aims to understand the way that autistic people perceive and interpret the world around them and how any such differences impact upon people’s everyday lives – at home, at school and in the community. I am also committed to improving relationships between autistic people and (non-autistic) scientists and to enhancing public understanding of autism, both its challenges and opportunities.
I trained as an educational psychologist in Perth, Australia, where I also completed my PhD on the cognitive profile of children with autism, before becoming a Research Fellow in Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. I became Director of CRAE in January 2013.
Dr. Vicky Slonims
Clinical lead speech and language therapist. (For children with complex communication disorders) Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust
Since 1993 I have worked at Guy’s Hospital in the assessment service for children with complex needs, particularly in the assessment and management of children with learning difficulties, communication disorders and autism spectrum disorders.
I qualified as a speech and language therapist in 1982 and was awarded a PhD from Kings College, London University in 2001. I worked initially with children in health centres, school settings (both special schools and mainstream) and as a domiciliary therapist. I have taught on undergraduate and postgraduate courses at NHCSS and the Institute of Child Health and regularly contribute to the post-diagnosis courses for parents of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders at the Institute of Psychiatry.
I am the Speech and Language Therapy advisor to the UK Rett Association and have an interest in the communication needs of individuals with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). I have been a trainer for the National Children’s Bureau on the development of communication for Early Years workers.
I am the Speech and Language Therapy representative at the Royal College of Paediatrics and the Research Forum of the Allied Health Professionals. I have a strong interested in promoting research by paramedical and education professionals. I am an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders.
I provide training in the use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G). I am interested in educational/treatment strategies for supporting the social development of adolescents and children with Asperger syndrome.
I am currently engaged in a two research studies. One, funded by the Welcome Trust, is a multi-centre study into the genetic component of developmental language disorders. The other is an MRC funded study of the effectiveness of early intervention for children with Autism.
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