We have much to celebrate in 2014— a year that marked exciting advancements and important innovations in the Waisman Center’s research and treatment of developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases. Here are some highlights from the last year.
Autism – Our investigators and clinicians’ work on autism brought awareness and hope as more teens than ever before are transitioning to life as adults with autism spectrum disorders.
ALS advances – Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, led a breakthrough discovery that provides a radically new perspective on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — commonly known by the acronym ALS— and could lead to new approaches for treating this disease.
Open the vault – We took a trip down memory lane to revisit the Waisman Center’s early days. An original film featuring Dr. Harry Waisman discussing phenylketonuria research was found in our archives and we shared President Kennedy’s unique connection to the Waisman Center.
Day with the Experts: Cerebral Palsy – We held our first Day with the Experts: Cerebral Palsy in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 250 individuals with CP, family members, care givers and community partners came to learn about the latest advances in CP research and treatment and to hear from a panel of individuals with CP.
Child Emotion – Seth Pollak, PhD, published a series of studies that shed light on how maltreatment and trauma in childhood can have long-term and significant effects on the brain as a child grows into adulthood.