Discover SPARK
Webinar: Autism BrainNet-Advancing Research through the Gift of Brain Donation
In this webinar, which will take place on November 14, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern time, David Amaral, Ph.D., and Carolyn Hare, M.S., CTBS, will provide an overview of Autism BrainNet, a resource for postmortem brain tissue, funded by SFARI. Amaral will discuss the value of postmortem brain donation in advancing autism research, the current status of the Autism BrainNet repository and some of what scientists are learning about autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders from postmortem brain studies. Hare will describe the donation process, how families are supported, and the resources available to families and individuals thinking about donation.
Who is David Amaral?
Dr. David G. Amaral received his undergraduate education at Northwestern University and graduated with a degree in Psychology. He then moved to the University of Rochester where he received a joint Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Psychology. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Washington University. He then moved to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla where he remained until moving to the University of California, Davis in 1995 as a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Neuroscience. Dr. Amaral was the Beneto Foundation Chair and founding Research Director of the MIND Institute from 1998 to 2018. In 2015, Dr. Amaral became Editor-in-Chief of Autism Research, the official journal of INSAR. He also serves as Scientific Director of Autism BrainNet, a program funded by the Simons Foundation to develop a postmortem brain repository to enhance autism research. He has published over 350 research articles that have been cited more nearly 90,000 times. He has co- edited three books. In 2019, Amaral was elected to the prestigious US National Academy of Medicine.
Who is Carolyn Komich Hare?
Carolyn Komich Hare, M.S., CTBS, serves as Autism BrainNet’s Clinical Director. In this role, Carolyn works directly with donor families to facilitate the donation process and conduct essential clinical interviews. She is a former special education teacher, certified ADI-R Trainer and research clinician who has dedicated her career of nearly 30 years to learning from neurodiverse communities. Prior to working with Autism BrainNet (and its legacy Autism Tissue Program), Carolyn founded Achieving in Higher Education with Autism and Developmental Disabilities (AHEADD) as well as the Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh. Outside of work, Carolyn is raising a family in Pittsburgh, enjoys reading and spending as much time as possible outdoors.