Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Location: 46-3002 (Singleton Auditorium)

Speaker: Jed Elison, Ph.D.
Affiliation: Irving B Harris Professor of Child Development and Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Institute of Child Development & Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota

Host: Dr. Charles Nelson

Talk title: Toward a New Era of Early Autism Identification

Abstract: Early intervention and support augment outcomes for autistic children. And yet, early identification remains challenging. I will discuss a conceptual challenge and a methodological challenge that if addressed, could potentially improve early identification efforts. I will share work from my team on early identification in three contexts: 1) familial risk, 2) neurological risk, and 3) normative epidemiological risk. I will close with some future directions that emphasize the value of “big” and “small” science.