Bibiana Restrepo
Dr. Bibiana Restrepo is a pediatrician specialized in neurodevelopment and child behavior. She works as an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, and at the MIND Institute. She has a special interest in the clinical care of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly those living in underserved areas. Dr. Restrepo has been actively involved in longitudinal studies at the UC Davis MIND Institute related to the presentation of autism across the lifespan, medical conditions, and environmental influences on the development and well-being of individuals. She has a special interest in strengthening collaboration between community professionals, therapy providers, and clinicians in the care of individuals with autism. Her research interests focus on improving the knowledge and understanding of early presentations of autism with an interdisciplinary approach, while also including underrepresented communities and promoting global collaboration efforts.
Connie Kasari, PhD
Connie Kasari, Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, Distinguished Professor of Human Development & Psychology in the School of Education with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. She received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been on the faculty at UCLA where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses and has been the primary advisor to more than 90 PhD students. She is a founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA.
Her research aims to development novel, evidence-tested interventions implemented in community settings. Recent projects include targeted treatments for early social communication development in at risk infants, toddlers and preschoolers with autism, and peer relationships for school aged children with autism. She leads several large multi-site studies including a network on interventions for minimally verbal school aged children with ASD, and a network that aims to increase equity in access to interventions for children with ASD who are under-represented in research trials. She is the current past-president of the International Society of Autism Research..
Flora Tassone
Dr. Flora Tassone, is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, an investigator at the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, and the director of the National Fragile X Foundation Collaborative Biomarker Research Program (NFXF CBR Program-Biobank). She received a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of Rome, Italy, for her studies on Down syndrome, has conducted research on genes involved in Down syndrome, and began to focus her attention on the molecular basis of Fragile X syndrome and autism. She is the author of over 350 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Dr. Tassone has extensive experience in medical genetics and clinical analysis.
Jenniffer Villarreal
Educational Psychologist, MSc in Child Neuropsychology, ITPND Scholar, certified Denver therapist. Director of Neurodevelopment Quito, an institution providing evidence-based services to individuals with developmental disorders in Quito, Ecuador. She is the clinical director of the Camina Conmigo Foundation, which offers free services to children with autism. She is a PhD student at the University of California, Davis, and works at the MIND Institute of the University of California. She also works in the Language Development Lab at the MIND Institute as a graduate research assistant.
Leonard Abbeduto
Leonard Abbeduto, Ph.D., has published more than 250 articles, chapters, reviews, and books on fragile X syndrome, autism, Down syndrome, and child development. His program of research has been funded nearly continuously by NIH since 1985. His current research is focused on understanding variation in language outcomes in various conditions associated with intellectual disability, the measurement of treatment effects in clinical trials, and the use of distance technology to deliver behavioral treatment. He serves as Co-director of the NICHD-funded MIND Institute Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), which provides core support to more than 80 projects and 40 scientists at the MIND Institute. He also co-directs the UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars program, which is a 4-year, residential, inclusive college program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He has received numerous awards, including the Emil H. Steiger Award for Distinguished Teaching from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Faculty Stewardship Award from the University of California, Davis, the Enid and William Rosen Research Award from the National Fragile X Foundation, and the Edgard Doll Award for Distinguished Research Contribution from Division 33 of the American Psychological Association.
Nancy C. Brady
Nancy C. Brady is a professor in the department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences and Disorders and an Investigator in the Life Span Studies at the University of Kansas. Dr. Brady’s research focuses on understanding how pre-speech communication develops, identifying aspects of pre-speech communication directly related to language development, and developing interventions aimed at promoting language by strengthening these foundational skills. A certified Speech Language Pathologist, Dr. Brady’s research informs clinical practice, particularly for individuals with severe autism, Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, rare disorders associated with intellectual disabilities, and children with sensory impairments such as deaf-blindness. Dr. Brady’s research program has resulted in over 90 peer- reviewed journal articles plus an edited book, numerous book chapters and conference presentations. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Education and Autism Speaks
Rafael Oliveras
He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the School of Medicine of Ponce, Puerto Rico and a postdoctorate in Pediatric Neuropsychology and Autism Spectrum Disorders from Children's National Medical Center & George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is president and founding member of the Neuropsychology Society of Puerto Rico, member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN), Society of Hispanic Neuropsychology, American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology and International Society for Research in Autism. He currently performs clinical and forensic work in private practice; and is an assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University. He has published articles, book chapters and research on topics related to Neuropsychological Measurement, development of Neuropsychology in PR and Latin American countries and Autism Spectrum Disorders in refereed professional journals. He is a reviewer of research articles for journals such as The Clinical Neuropsychologist, Developmental Neuropsychology, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. He is also an exponent of neurodevelopment issues and clinical practice in neuropsychology through national and international forums.
Dr. Randi Hagerman
Dr. Randi Hagerman is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and a Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at the MIND Institute at UC Davis. She is internationally recognized as both a clinician and researcher in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and fragile X syndrome. Dr. Hagerman received her M.D. from Stanford University, where she also carried out her Pediatric residency. She completed a Fellowship in Learning and Disabilities and Ambulatory Pediatrics at UC San Diego, then led Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Colorado for 20 years. She co-founded the National Fragile X Foundation in 1984. In 2000, Hagerman joined the MIND Institute and she carries out treatment trials for Fragile X syndrome, ASD and FXTAS. There, she and her team discovered the Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the fragile X premutation. Hagerman has written over 500 peer-reviewed articles and numerous book chapters on neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as editing several books on fragile X disorders including a 2020 book edited by Hagerman and Hagerman titled Fragile X Syndrome and Premutation Disorders published by MacKeith press and she coedited the second edition of the Textbook of Autism Spectrum Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Publishing in 2023. Her research includes targeted treatment trials for Fragile X syndrome, autism, FXTAS and other premutation disorders.
Robert M. Miller
Director, Clinic & International Relations, National Fragile X Foundation Robby has spent over 50 years helping children with special needs, and their families and the professionals who work with them. Robby is particularly interested in how families learn about, access, and receive meaningful services from competent professionals, organizations, and institutions. This interest led to his co-founding the Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium, a network of evaluation, treatment and research clinics. He has also spoken about and assisted with the development of patient advocacy organizations throughout the world.
Sandy Magaña
Adapting a Parent Training Program for Latino Parents of Autistic Children in the US to Parents in Latin America. Sandy Magaña, PhD, MSW, holds the Professorship in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin and is the Director of the Texas Center for Disability Studies. She received a Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino, and her Ph.D. from the Heller Graduate School of Social Policy at Brandeis University. Dr. Magaña completed post-doctoral training from the NICHD funded Post-Doctoral Program in Developmental Disabilities Research at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Magaña’s current research includes investigating racial and ethnic disparities among children with autism and developmental disabilities and developing culturally relevant interventions to address these disparities. She has received funding for her research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
Somer Bishop, PhD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Somer Bishop is a clinical psychologist and Professor in Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Bishop’s research and clinical interests focus on the assessment of social-communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and how these symptom dimensions are affected by individual and contextual factors across the lifespan. Dr. Bishop is interested in developing tools that can be used in both clinical and research settings to assess profiles of social- communicative and other behavioral strengths and challenges across development in varied clinical populations (e.g., ASD, intellectual disability, ADHD). Another line of research focuses on promoting psychological health and well-being among adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum, with a particular focus on understanding the impact of positive and negative social experiences on depressive symptoms. At the UCSF Center for ASDs and NDDs, Dr. Bishop participates in comprehensive, multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders
Vanessa M. Avila-Pons, M.A.
Vanessa Avila-Pons is the Treatment and Training Manager for the Collaborative Start Lab at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Vanessa has over 15 years of clinical experience working with children with autism and their families. Vanessa has worked at the MIND Institute since 2008, where she has delivered evidence-based treatments and has led treatment teams across several Autism Center for Excellence (ACE) grants. Vanessa is the Social Work faculty member for the Northern California LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Program, where she helps build community partnerships and oversees community engagement for trainees. Vanessa is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and received her master's degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Latino Counseling from Santa Clara University. Vanessa is also a certified therapist, parent coach, and senior trainer of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM).
Véronica Martínez Cerdeño
Dr. Martínez-Cerdeño earned her doctorate from the Autonomous University of Madrid and completed her postdoctoral studies at Columbia University in New York, the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of California, Davis (UCD). She is currently a professor in the Department of Pathology at UCD, director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Pathology Lab, and director of the Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives in Science. Her laboratory is dedicated to studying the pathology and anatomy of autism and related disorders, as well as the role of stem cells in the development, evolution, and pathogenesis of the mammalian cerebral cortex.
Wilmar Saldarriaga-Gil
Dr. Wilmar Saldarriaga-Gil is an MD, Obstetrics & Gynecologist, Master and PhD in Biomedical Science with emphasis in medical genetics degree holder from the Valle University, School of Medicine and school of basic sciences, where he is now a Professor Titular. Dr. Saldarriaga as a physician, professor and researcher has oriented his work to the integration of human embryology and genetics to obstetrics and gynecology, focusing on congenital anomalies, prenatal diagnosis, and Fragile X syndrome –this last topic is networked with the MIND Institute of the University of California at Davis, where he did his last year of his PhD. He is author of 105 articles in scientific journals and author-editor of 5 books, 3 of them in Spanish and English. He has been a speaker at numerous national and international events, and has received multiple national and international recognitions for his activity as a teacher and researcher. Professor Saldarriaga senior researcher MINCIENCIAS-Colombia.
Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, PhD
He is one of the Latin American psychologists with the most recognitions, awards and distinctions at an international level.
He has published more than 450 articles in international journals and has been invited professor for 150 universities on 5 continents.
Juan Carlos is founder of the Ibero-American Congress of Neuropsychology. He has carried out test scale studies on 5 continents and has published 16 books.
He was also included in Stanford University's prestigious list of the 2% of the most influential researchers in the world.
Carlos Zevallos, Msc.
Carlos obtained a master's degree in clinical neuropsychology, graduating cum laude from the University of Leiden, Netherlands. His thesis was nominated for the national prize of the Royal Dutch Society of Sciences and Humanities. He has worked in research at the University of Rochester and the University of Pittsburgh, USA, investigating the neuronal functioning of populations with autism, ADHD, depression and bipolar disorder. He has received awards and co-authored scientific publications in prestigious journals such as the American Journal of Psychiatry. He is a research consultant for the University of Leiden, Netherlands, and currently works as Clinical Director and neuropsychologist at Neurodesarrollo Quito.
Arianne LLamos Paneque. Msc.MD.
Dr. Arianne LLamos Paneque, Msc.MD., is a specialist in Clinical Genetics and Leader of the Clinical Genetics Service at Hospital de Especialidades No, 1 FF.AA, the only public institution in Ecuador that offers a possibility of molecular diagnosis for Fragile X Syndrome. She graduated in Medicine, with Gold Degree distinction, from the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba. She is currently a Professor of Genetics at the School of Dentistry of the International University of Ecuador, and a Professor of Biology at the Israel Technical University. He began to focus his attention on the molecular basis of fragile She is the author of more than 18 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Dr. LLamos has extensive experience in medical genetics and clinical analysis.
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