Unravelling Autism • Preston Wiles M.D. • Professor, UTSWMC • Senior Attending, Autism Center Learning Objectives • Describe essential features of autism spectrum disorders • Overview of genetic factors in the disorder • Understand brain function related to core features of autism • Review features of epidemiology-is there an epidemic or not • Role of science/education vs. Myth/meme Autism Spectrum Disorders • Autistic Disorder • Pervasive Developmental

Dissecting the Role of MeCP2 in Brain & Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders Lisa M. Monteggia, Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX Autism • Twin studies examining the concordance of autism spectrum disorders for identical twins, compared to fraternal twins or siblings, indicates a strong genetic component. • Many genes have been associated with autism, but each has been found in only a few individuals. • No single

ß-Lapachone, a ‘Kiss of death’ therapy for cancer David A. Boothman, Ph.D. Laboratory of Molecular Stress Responses Program in Cell Stress and Cancer Nanomedicine Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas September 14, 2008 Cellular Damage New Gene Expression Exploitable Target: Expressed in Human Tumors, not (or low) in Normal Tissues Bioactivate Drug For Tumor-Selective Killing -Not cell cycle

Cardiovascular Alterations Team Basic Science Clinical Science Mature Countermeasure Space Radiation Human Health and Countermeasures Cardiovascular Alterations Team Radiation, Endothelial Cell Senescence, Accelerated Aging, and Atherosclerosis PI. Art Shoukas, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University Effect of high energy particle irradiation on adhesiveness of vascular endothelium and its consequences for atherosclerosis PI: Dennis Kucik, M.D. The University of Alabama at

1 Cancer Cancer NanomedicineNanomedicine JinmingJinming GaoGao, Ph.D., Ph.D. Department of PharmacologyDepartment of Pharmacology Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer CenterHarold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center UT Southwestern Medical CenterUT Southwestern Medical Center Departments of Chemistry and BioengineeringDepartments of Chemistry and Bioengineering UT DallasUT Dallas 12,75612,756 kmkm NanomedicineNanomedicine in in PerspectivePerspective Mother EarthMother Earth 25.4