Advances in Autism 2026: The Current State of Autism Science

Friday, May 8, 2026, 9:00 AM - 4:20 PM, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center - Tamkin Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA

On Friday, May 8, 2026, nationally renowned UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) investigators and clinicians will present the current state of autism science across a range of fields—from basic research to intervention science—spanning the lifespan. These sessions provide an overview of current evidence in autism science and the emerging directions shaping the field. During this event, speakers will share key developments from the field and highlight how UCLA is helping to lead the way through research, clinical innovation, and community engagement.

In light of widespread misinformation about autism, maintaining an informed and ongoing dialogue with scientists, clinicians, families, community members, and all who seek to understand autism and stay informed is essential. It is more imperative than ever to ensure that accurate, evidence-based information from trustworthy sources remains readily accessible. We invite you to join the conversation, engage with our community, and participate in a dedicated day of learning and discussion. 

Fees

• $225 Physicians and Doctoral Level Professionals

• $205 Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

• $125 Non-Healthcare

UCLA CART has established the Opportunity Fund to help support under-resourced members of our community attend this event. For more information, contact UCLA CART at [email protected]. Availability is limited.

UC Recharge Payment Information
Registration payment can be submitted via the Interdepartmental or Intercampus recharge system.
For more details, please refer to document here: Recharge Information

Refunds
Cancellations must be received via email to [email protected] by Sunday, April 19, 2026 and will be subject to a $50 processing fee. No refunds will be granted after that date. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA reserves the right to cancel or postpone this course if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs, such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties. 

Course Recording
All registrants will be provided the opportunity to review recorded sessions up to 3 weeks following the conference.

The recorded sessions are not approved for Continuing Education (CE) credit.

1. Integrate current autism science, from genetics through treatment, into clinical reasoning and professional decision-making across the lifespan.
2. Apply current evidence on autism genetics and early brain development to inform understanding of autism pathophysiology, improve diagnostic understanding and patient or family communication.
3. Analyze objective phenotyping approaches and determine how these methods inform autism assessment and individualized care planning.
4. Frame emerging autism assessment approaches across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to support appropriate diagnostic evaluation and referral.
5. Apply evidence-based principles of early intervention (JASPER) to guide clinical recommendations, referral decisions, and interdisciplinary collaboration for young children with autism.
6. Incorporate current evidence on employment outcomes for autistic adults into counseling, referral, or programmatic support strategies.

The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The California State Board of Registered Nursing accepts courses approved by the AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. as meeting the continuing education requirements for license renewal. Nurses from states other than California should inquire with their local State Board for specific continuing education policies. 

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (4.50 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (4.50 hours)

You are not logged in.

Please click the button below to login or create a new account before continuing.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Tamkin Auditorium (B-Level)

757 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Parking
Parking information will be shared at a later time.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Standards for Integrity and Independence mandates that the accreditation manages all identified relevant financial relationship(s) before the program and adequately discloses relationships to learners. The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA adheres to the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in accredited continuing education.

The individuals below have been identified as having a position to influence the content of this educational activity. As such, they have disclosed the absence or presence of a relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

All of the relevant financial relationships for these individuals have been mitigated.

Friday, May 8, 2026