Date Published: October 24, 2025

In this recorded webinar, Dr. Pierce — the California site Principal Investigator for the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network — takes an in-depth look at the rising prevalence rates and what they truly mean. She explores how evolving diagnostic criteria, shifting terminology, and a growing recognition of autism’s biological and clinical diversity have reshaped our understanding of the condition. The talk reviews ADDM methodology and newest results, global prevalence trends, and research aimed at characterizing and understanding autism’s considerable heterogeneity. Dr. Pierce also discusses why subtyping is essential for advancing science and services, and how emerging concepts such as “profound autism” fit into this evolving conversation.

Who is Karen Pierce?

Karen Pierce, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Neurosciences, Co-Director of the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence, and the California site Principal Investigator for the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, where she leads a team responsible for assembling autism prevalence data in San Diego County. She also developed Get SET Early, an innovative early detection program that mobilizes pediatricians to screen infants at 12-, 18-, and 24-month well-baby visits — resulting in more than 150,000 screenings across the region. Through this program, Dr. Pierce pioneered the use of eye-tracking biomarkers that not only aid in diagnosis but also help illuminate autism’s clinical heterogeneity. Dr. Pierce has been invited to deliver keynote lectures on autism around the world, and her research has been published in high-impact journals such as JAMA Pediatrics and featured in major media outlets including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Time magazine. Her contributions to autism research have been recognized with numerous honors, including an NIH MERIT Award, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services IACC Top 20 Research Paper distinction, and the San Diego Health Hero Award.