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Abha Gupta, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics/ DBP)
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Additional Titles

Associate Professor, Neuroscience

Associate Professor, Child Study Center

About

Titles

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics/ DBP)

Associate Professor, Neuroscience; Associate Professor, Child Study Center

Biography

Abha R. Gupta obtained her BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. She earned her MD and PhD (Neuroscience) degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a residency in general pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a clinical fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at CHOP and Yale School of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests are in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), especially regressive conditions such as childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). She obtained postdoctoral research training in the genetic investigation of ASD. As a principal investigator, she is pursuing both the genetics and neurobiology (stem cell modeling) of ASD.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellowship
Yale University School of Medicine (2007)
Fellowship
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2005)
Residency
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2004)
PhD
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Neuroscience (2001)
MD
University of Pennsylvania Medical School (2001)

Research

Overview

Abha Gupta is investigating the genetic basis and neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is especially interested in regression in autism and is collaborating with research groups at the Child Study Center on an imaging genomics project on late-onset, severe regressive autism, also known as Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD). Her laboratory is also pursuing stem cells modeling of autism-associated genetic mutations through the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and genome editing.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Autistic Disorder; Brain Diseases; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Genetic Research; Neurobiology; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Rare Diseases

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Abha Gupta's published research.

Publications

2023

2021

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    The Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Clinical Care

Overview

Long before autism became a household word, Abha R. Gupta, MD, PhD, was fascinated by a one-page article about the condition she randomly encountered in a news magazine.

“I was intrigued and struck by how autism affects some of our most human abilities, such as social relatedness and abstract language,” recalls Dr. Gupta, who at the time was pursuing her doctorate degree in neuroscience. “I didn’t know anyone with autism, so my interest came from a neuroscientist’s perspective.”

That interest drove Dr. Gupta to specialize in developmental-behavioral pediatrics. Then she began researching the genetic links to autism. Over the years, she has developed great respect for parents and families of children with the condition. “I appreciate how difficult this diagnosis is for families,” Dr. Gupta says. “My inability to give parents clear answers as to what causes autism, because of the state of the science, motivates me and provides a sense of urgency to do autism research in the lab.”

As the attending physician in the Fast Track Autism Clinic at Yale Medicine, Dr. Gupta evaluates children (ages 18 months to 5 ½ years old) to determine whether they meet criteria for autism. She particularly enjoys using play sessions with children as a way to detect delays or disabilities. “What other pediatric specialty can claim to be more fun?” asks Dr. Gupta, who is an assistant professor of pediatrics (general pediatrics) at Yale School of Medicine.

The hardest part of her job, she says, is telling parents that their child has autism. “It is often emotionally draining for everyone involved,” she says, adding that she balances the diagnosis by bringing attention to a child’s strengths, too. “They are not defined by their disability. I tell parents they are doing great by their child by bringing them to our clinic so we can determine the diagnosis and come up with a plan of action. I emphasize that we are here to help advocate for their child. They should never feel alone navigating the school system or service agencies to ensure they receive all the help they need.”

Clinical Specialties

Pediatrics; Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Medicine

Fact Sheets

Board Certifications

  • Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

    Certification Organization
    AB of Pediatrics
    Latest Certification Date
    2017
    Original Certification Date
    2009

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