Brian Lee is associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Brian Lee
Associate professor
Drexel University
From this contributor
Journal club: Does lithium in drinking water contribute to autism?
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that autism is more common among people born in areas with high levels of lithium in drinking water, but it is too soon to say whether prenatal lithium exposure is truly a concern.
Journal club: Does lithium in drinking water contribute to autism?
By
Brian Lee
11 April 2023 | 7 min read
Autism heritability: It probably does not mean what you think it means
The question of autism's heritability is compelling for researchers and laypeople alike, but many people in both groups misunderstand its definition.
Autism heritability: It probably does not mean what you think it means
By
Brian Lee
7 January 2020 | 6 min read
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PIEZO channels are opening the study of mechanosensation in unexpected places
The force-activated ion channels underlie the senses of touch and proprioception. Now scientists are using them as a tool to explore molecular mechanisms at work in internal organs, including the heart, bladder, uterus and kidney.
PIEZO channels are opening the study of mechanosensation in unexpected places
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Latest iteration of U.S. federal autism committee comes under fire
The new panel “represents a radical departure from all past rosters,” says autism researcher Helen Tager-Flusberg.
Latest iteration of U.S. federal autism committee comes under fire
The new panel “represents a radical departure from all past rosters,” says autism researcher Helen Tager-Flusberg.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
29 January 2026 | 9 min read
‘Tour de force’ study flags fount of interneurons in human brain
The newly discovered cell type might point to the origins of the inhibitory imbalance linked to autism and other conditions.
‘Tour de force’ study flags fount of interneurons in human brain
The newly discovered cell type might point to the origins of the inhibitory imbalance linked to autism and other conditions.
By
Holly Barker
29 January 2026 | 4 min read