Current Models for the Genetic Basis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Events

Current Models for the Genetic Basis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bernie Devlin, PhD Professor of Psychiatry, Human Genetics, and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

For the past 20 years Dr. Bernie Devlin's Lab has had two major foci, the development or refinement of statistical methods for the analysis of genetic data and the implementation of such methods to discover the genetic basis of disease and related phenotypes. The Devlin Lab developed statistical methods appropriate for large-scale genetic studies and applied them and other methods to characterize the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, among others. Recently Dr. Devlin and his team have broadened their focus to include neurobiology, with a goal of helping to understand how genetic variation alters neurodevelopment and thereby generates risk for psychiatric disorders. 

Location: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Auditorium

For More Information: Please contact Frances Patrick (patrickfm@upmc.edu).

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand how inherited common variation influences risk for autism spectrum disorder.

  2. Describe how and why de novo genetic variation (present in offspring, not in parents) affects risk.

  3. Understand how rare de novo and common inherited variation contribute to risk. 

Continuing Education Credit:  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference.  WPIC is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists.  WPIC maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits.