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Complex motor stereotypies, or stereotyped movements, are repetitive and rhythmic movements that usually start in early childhood and often continue into adulthood. The movements may include hand flapping, waving, rotating or tensing of body parts, and are observed just as frequently in both boys and girls. It is worth noting that children often develop their own "signature" movement patterns. Some may flap their arms while walking in circles, while others may repeatedly shrug their shoulders or tense their hands. Complex motor stereotypies may be distinguished from simple motor stereotypies. The latter are common in early childhood, and include nail biting, tapping or fidgeting, and usually disappear as children grow older. Complex motor stereotypies are frequently observed in children with autism, developmental delays, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], anxiety, and some neurological conditions. However, they also occur in children who are developing typically.

Lin is a stem cell biologist who has made essential contributions to the fields of reproductive biology, developmental biology, and stem cell biology.

Scientist Haifan Lin has been awarded the Francis Amory Prize in Reproductive Medicine and Physiology by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

The Yale Institute for Global Health has selected Thomas Fernandez, MD; Eleanor Reid, MD, PhD; and Vanessa Ezenwa, PhD to receive the Fall 2023 Spark Award. Each recipient will receive an award of up to $10,000. The Spark Award aims to provide initial funding to support global health research initiatives and partnerships among YIGH-affiliated faculty. Candidates were selected based on five criteria: innovation, feasibility, sustainability, anticipated outcomes, and alignment with YIGH’s mission to improve the health of individuals and populations worldwide. Below is a summary of the Fall 2023 Spark Award projects and their Principal Investigators:

A recent study led by Dr. Flora Vaccarino explored the different cell types in cortical organoids to gain a better understanding of the development of macrocephaly in autistic individuals.

Leaders in science, education, and the musical arts join in NYC to celebrate the transformative power of children, youth, and families to build a more peaceful world.

The Social and Affective Neuroscience of Autism (SANA) lab focuses on early social and affective development of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. In this inaugural blog post by SANA Program Director Kasia Chawarska, PhD, two studies are featured that are actively recruiting infants and young children.

SFARI Investigators Flora Vaccarino at Yale University and Alexej Abyzov at Mayo Clinic used brain organoids to investigate neurobiological mechanisms linking brain size with idiopathic autism (autism without a known cause) (Jourdon et al., Nat. Neurosci., 2023).