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Welcome to ACE

The Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) and Healthy Infant Development Laboratory is dedicated to discovering the causes of autism and paving the way for more effective autism treatment. We focus on research to help identify what autism looks like in babies as young as 12 months. Read More

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Concerned Your Child Has Autism? 

Does your child have Autism?

Over 1 in 110 children born each year will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Are you concerned your child might be one of them?

Inspiring Autism Stories 

  • CHWO
    Christian Woempner

    Christian Woempner was diagnosed with autism at a young age. Today he is excelling as a student in Computer Aided Design and Drafting. Read more.

  • Alex Koeppel
    Alex Koeppel

    Alex Koeppel was diagnosed with autism at an early age. He has excelled in his academics and today he maintains a steady job. Read more.

  • Erik Weber
    Erik N. Weber, MPA - Sep. 2011

    Erik Weber was diagnosed with autism at 3 years of age. Today he holds a masters degree in Public Administration. Read more.

News & Events 

New research by ACE Director Eric Courchesne and other researchers at ACE and elsewhere points to increased neurons in the prefrontal cortex of children with autism. Learn more | See a video
 
ACE researchers have identified a possible early identifier of autism: an impairment in the ability of the brain's right and left hemispheres to communicate with each other. Learn more.
 

The One-Year Well-Baby Check Up Approach developed by ACE Assistant Director Karen Pierce helps pediatricians screen autism early, which leads to earlier intervention. Learn more.

 

To view upcoming conferences and lectures of Drs. Courchesne &  Pierce, please see our Events page.

 

 

Video Highlights 

  • CARTA: Human Origins

    Lessons from Autism Spectrum Disorders - Karen Pierce: The Early Identification of Autism: Examinations of Brain and Behavior

  • CARTA: Human Origins

    Lessons from Autism Spectrum Disorders - Eric Courchesne: Surprising Findings in Autism: Insights into Anthropogeny?

  • New Autism Study

    Dr. Eric Courchesne, UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence, and Dr. Michael S. Nelson, Kaiser Permanente, talk with KPBS.

  • Center of Autism Excellence

    Groundbreaking research on autism being done by Eric Courchesne and Karen Pierce at UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence.

  • Causes, Screening, Treatment

    Eric Courchesne and Karen Pierce discuss advances in autism causes, screening and Treatment.

  • Autism & Brain Overgrowth

    UC San Diego's Dr. Eric Courchesne explains how an overabundance of neurons in the front cortex of the brain leads to autism.

  • Underlying Brain Biology

    Dr. Eric Courchesne, keynote speaker at IMFAR, describes the underlying brain biology of autism.

  • Autism Research Today

    Autism Research Today on Dateline. Watch Video on MSNBC.

Quicklinks 

Typical Toddler Development
Enroll in a Study
Directions to our Center
 

Autism Research 

Research Programs at the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence are contributing to the overall understanding of autism spectrum disorder.

 

 

Need To Train Typical Kids How to Play with Children With Autism?

 Give the Peer Manual to the typical peer and use the Teacher Manual to help the adult understand how to run the play sessions