Elissar Andari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry
University of Toledo College of Medicine
Email: Elissar.Andari@UToledo.edu
ASAN Mission
We are adopting multidisciplinary and multimodal approaches to better understand the behavioral, neurobiological, and neurophysiological mechanisms that underly the phenotypical heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder. We adopt translational, pre-clinical, social neuroscience, and clinical approaches to work on these missions.
Deep Phenotyping Approach
The first mission of the lab is to implement Deep Phenotyping Approach for Autism to unravel the different subtypes or biotypes of the spectrum that have distinct phenotypical and biological features. We are using behavioral assays, fMRI, fNIRS technology, and physiological recordings in the domain of social cognition, empathy, and negative valence. We are also using machine learning approaches to determine specific biotypes of autism that are biologically relevant and that respond best to selective treatment. We are also using transgenerational approaches to better understand the epigenetic and genetic transmission of features and traits and its contribution to subtypes.
Treatment Approaches
The second mission is to use different methods of treatment approaches (pharmacological and other) to help with core and comorbid deficits of ASD. A precision medicine approach will be adopted to maximize treatment effectiveness.
Early screening tools and biomarkers
The third mission is to find early screening tools and biomarkers to diagnose ASD early in development for boys and girls. We are also seeking to implement a new infrastructure for early screening beyond healthcare settings.
Neurobiological correlates of empathy
The fourth mission is to understand the neurobiological correlates of empathy and affiliative behaviors and see how we can help psychiatric disorders that are touched by a deficit in empathy to restore different forms of attachment and inter-individual deep connections.
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