The formation of the Centre for Autism and Related Disorders represents a major step forward in the quest for improved understanding and better treatment and services for individuals with autism and related disorders, which constitute some of the most serious disorders of brain and behavioural development. The centre has been established by a unique multidisciplinary group of internationally renowned scientists and clinician scientists who work in close partnership with the UK’s leading clinical practitioners.

• Built around the longstanding strengths of research groups in London, the centre includes research and clinical groups from (please click to visit their websites):

Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry (lead centre)          

Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre

Child & Adolescent Department

Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Science

Other Centres

The Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development           

City University 

The Institute of Education

Guy's King's and St Thomas's NHS Trust

Goldsmiths College

The South London & Maudsley NHS

• Children
• Adults            

For a full list of research groups who work closely alongside CARD please click the banner below: 

 The Centre has strong collaborative links with UK research groups in Aberdeen, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle & Southampton Universities and Internationally with many other research groups in North America, Europe & Australasia.
 

1. To focus research and development efforts on autism and related disorders of neurodevelopment.
2. To develop and pursue integrated, collaborative, interdisciplinary programmes of research that lead the world in biological discovery and therapeutic advances.
3. To develop clinical and research capacity in the UK and around the globe through teaching, training and dissemination of methods and knowledge.
4. To continually improve clinical services by developing and testing promising treatments and better ways of delivering services.

Over twenty five leading senior UK scientists and clinicians are involved in the work of the centre, so the breadth and depth of expertise of the basic and clinical scientists in the Centre is exceptional. Together with their research and clinical teams they comprise the largest group working on autism in the UK. The work of centre scientists and clinicians is internationally renowned with publications on autism being the most highly cited in the world. A recent 10-year review of research publications on autism conducted by the influential ISI Thompson organisation (see www.esi-topics.com) concluded that:

• Nine of the twenty most widely cited publications on autism were published by centre scientists.
• Three of the world's twenty most highly cited authors on autism work in the centre.

In addition to its research eminence, clinician scientists at the centre provide the UK.s primary national and specialist clinical services for children and adults with autism and related disorders. This national role is supported by the Department of Health and UK charities such as the Tuberous Sclerosis Association.