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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Author

Angie Voyles Askham

Senior reporter

Angie Voyles Askham is Senior Reporter for Spectrum, where she covers neural circuits and gene therapy, among other topics. She proposed and writes Spectrum Launch, a monthly newsletter for early-career researchers. Before joining Spectrum in 2020, she worked in radio journalism and academic publishing. Voyles Askham has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. You can email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter @avaskham.

Contact Info

[email protected]

July 2023
A hand holds a compass against a blue background.

Spectrum Launch: Transitioning to industry with Hien Zhao

by  /  6 July 2023

Zhao says her graduate and postdoctoral training prepared her to transition to her job at the biotech company Ionis Pharmaceuticals, where she works to find treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other conditions.

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Illustration of a fragile X syndrome chromosome.

New gene-editing method flags fragile X mutation for repair

by  /  5 July 2023

The approach prompts cultured cells to correct the genetic mutation in fragile X syndrome using their own DNA repair system, but it still needs to be tested further.

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June 2023
Research image of rodent brain scans.

CRISPR tool rids rodents of oxytocin receptors

by  /  14 June 2023

The approach provides an “off-the-shelf” way for researchers to compare oxytocin function across species, the team says.

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Still from research video of mice socializing.

Multi-lab study hints at benefits of long-tested autism drug

by  /  8 June 2023

The results lend support for clinical trials of arbaclofen in people with an autism-linked condition, the researchers say.

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Photograph of a series of dots emanating from a speech bubble.

How early-career researchers get the most out of social media

by  /  7 June 2023

Researchers share advice about how they find connection and gain visibility via online platforms.

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Illustration shows a road going into the distance, seen from the driver's point of view.

Spectrum Launch: Four tips for advancing your career via social media

by  /  7 June 2023

Researchers also share insight into navigating the academic job market and “everything you wanted to know about running a lab but were afraid to ask.”

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A young woman sleeps at home wearing a Dreem headband and surrounded by stuffed animals.

Capturing autism’s sleep problems with devices nearable and wearable

by ,  /  6 June 2023

Next-generation trackers could realize a long-standing research dream: conducting sleep studies in large numbers of autistic people.

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May 2023
Still image taken from research video of three human microglia surveying their surroundings in a new experimental setup for studying the cells.

Grafted organoids reveal how microglia adapt to shifting brain environments

by  /  11 May 2023

The chimeric mouse model could provide a more realistic way to study microglia’s roles in brain conditions such as autism.

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A hand holds a compass against a blue background.

Spectrum Launch: Demystifying academia with Laurel Gabard-Durnam

by  /  4 May 2023

The Northeastern University psychology professor’s website offers a wealth of resources about how to navigate an academic career.

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April 2023

Publisher retracts autism paper after spotting ‘tortured phrases’

by  /  27 April 2023

The paper used more than two dozen such terms, which have cropped up in thousands of published papers in recent years.

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