Conference Schedule

Friday 11 May, 2007

08.00 Registration and coffee

09.00 Welcome and introduction - Dr. Ilona Roth and Dr. Payam Rezaie

Opening Session

09.10 Medical Research Council - Dr. Gavin Malloch
(MRC Neurosciences and Mental Health Programme Director)

09.20 The Wellcome Trust - Dr. John Williams
(Wellcome Trust Neurosciences and Mental Health Programme Director)

09.30 Economic and Social Research Council – Michelle Dodson
(Research Development Leader, ESRC Research and Development Directorate)

09.40 National Autistic Society - Richard Mills
(Director of Research)

09.50 Autism Speaks - Dr. Jenny Longmore
(Director of Research and Programmes, Europe)

Session 1: Definitions, diagnosis and assessment
(Chair: Prof. Anne O'Hare)

10.00 Prof. Ann Le Couteur, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Early assessment and diagnosis of children with autism
(ADIR- Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised)

10.30 Coffee and poster viewing

Session 2: Aetiology, epidemiology and genetics
(Chair: Prof. Anthony Monaco)

11.00 Prof. Tony Charman, Institute of Child Health, London
The prevalence of autism - recent evidence and future challenges

11.30 Prof. Jean Golding, University of Bristol
The aetiology of traits contributing to ASD - the role of environmental
risk factors in the development of autism and autism spectrum disorders

12.00 Prof. Anthony Bailey, University of Oxford
Identifying and understanding the actions of susceptibility genes on autism

12.30 Prof. Patrick Bolton, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Autism and Tuberous Sclerosis - association of ASD with candidate
genes on chromosome 15

13.00 Lunch (Old Lecture Theatre) and poster viewing

Session 3: Metabonomics, physiological and biochemical perspectives
(Chair: Prof. Anthony Bailey)

14.00 Dr. Sabine Bahn, ARC and University of Cambridge
Functional genomics and proteomics - applications to autism research
Deisease markers in first - onset schizophrenia

14.30 Dr. Gordon Bell, University of Stirling
Metabolic disturbances in autism, focusing on abnormal
phospholipid metabolism

15.00 Coffee and poster viewing

Session 4: Neurology, imaging and brain pathology
(Chair: Prof. Steve Swithenby)

15.30 Prof. Declan Murphy, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Brain anatomy and imaging studies in autism – neurobiological correlates

16.00 Dr. Martin Bax, Imperial College London
The relationship between epilepsy and ASD

16:30 Dr. Christoph Schmitz, Maastricht University
Dr. Payam Rezaie, Open University / Institute of Psychiatry
The neuropathology of autism

17:00 Dr. Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska and Prof. Elaine Perry, University of Newcastle
Neurotransmission and connectivity in autism - cytoskeletal and neurotransmitter alterations

17.30 Close of meeting (Day 1)

18.00 Social Event -Wine Reception (Venue: Berrill ground floor, Open University)

20.00 Social Event -Conference Dinner (Venue: Bletchley Park)

Guest Speaker: Dame Stephanie Shirley "Challenges to Autism Research"

Day 2

09.00 Registration

Session 5: Psychological perspectives, language and communication
(Chair: Prof. Peter Mitchell)

09.30 Dr. Kate Plaisted, University of Cambridge
Visual processing abnormalities in children with autism

10.00 Dr. Emma Weisblatt and Dr. José Alcántara, University of Cambridge
Auditory perception studies in autism and Asperger’s syndrome

10.30 Coffee and poster viewing

Session 6: Psychological perspectives, language and communication
(Chair: Dr. Ilona Roth)

11.00 Prof. Peter Hobson, Institute of Child Health, London
The relationship between social and cognitive inflexibility in autism

11.30 Prof. Jill Boucher, University of Warwick
Characteristics and causes of language impairment in low functioning autism

12.00 Dr. Ayla Humphrey, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge
Neuropsychological profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder:
a clinic referred case study

12.30 Prof. Dermot Bowler, City University, London
Memory and Asperger’s syndrome

13.00 Lunch (Berrill ground floor), poster viewing and judging of posters

Session 7: Education, management and early intervention
(Chair: Prof. Colwyn Trevarthen)

14.00 Prof. Jonathan Green, University of Manchester
The Pre-School Autism Communication Trial (PACT). What do parents want
from an early intervention?

14.30 Prof. Rita Jordan, University of Birmingham
Managing autism and Asperger syndrome in current education provision

15.00 Prof. Patricia Howlin, Institute of Psychiatry, London
The evidence base for interventions for children and adults with
autism spectrum disorder

15.30 Coffee

16.00 Conference Discussion

16.30 Announcement of poster prize winners and presentation of awards

16:45 Closing Speaker (to be confirmed)

17.00 Close of meeting (Day 2)