Geraldine Dawson, director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, explains how brain plasticity and new treatments are changing outcomes for children with autism.

Geraldine Dawson is a professor in the departments of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pediatrics, and psychology and neuroscience, and director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development at Duke University.

Dawson is president of the International Society for Autism Research. She serves as a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which develops the federal strategic plan for autism research, services, and policy. Dawson is a leading expert on autism, having published more than 225 articles and 10 books on early detection and treatment of autism and brain development. She is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and American Psychological Association, and currently serves on the editorial boards of four scientific journals.

Dawson’s awards include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Psychological Science, among others. Her scientific research was recognized by the NIH as a Top Advance in Autism Research in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013.

Dawson received a Ph.D. in developmental and child clinical psychology from the University of Washington and completed a clinical internship at the University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Institute.

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