Liz Pellicano is professor of autism at University College London in the United Kingdom

Liz Pellicano
Director, Centre for Research in Autism and Education
University College London
From this contributor
We need better strategies to support autistic people as the COVID-19 crisis continues
Interviews with autistic people reveal that many miss their friends and opportunities for social connection, in stark contrast to orthodox views that they have little social motivation and prefer a life of self-isolation.

We need better strategies to support autistic people as the COVID-19 crisis continues
General practitioners urgently need autism training
Many general practitioners in the United Kingdom do not receive autism training, and report having little confidence in caring for patients on the spectrum.

General practitioners urgently need autism training
Friendships pose unique challenges for women on the spectrum
Women with autism value friendships as much as their neurotypical peers do, but they often have difficulty forming and maintaining them.

Friendships pose unique challenges for women on the spectrum
Explore more from The Transmitter
Targeting NMDA receptor subunit reverses fragile X traits in mice
The subunit acts as a “volume control” on signaling that shapes the density of dendritic spines, the new work suggests.

Targeting NMDA receptor subunit reverses fragile X traits in mice
The subunit acts as a “volume control” on signaling that shapes the density of dendritic spines, the new work suggests.
Maternal infection’s link to autism may be a mirage
Family-linked factors explain most associations between maternal illness and autism, a study of 1.1 million Danish children finds.

Maternal infection’s link to autism may be a mirage
Family-linked factors explain most associations between maternal illness and autism, a study of 1.1 million Danish children finds.
2025 Brain Prize honors pair of cancer neuroscientists
Michelle Monje and Frank Winkler share the $1.4 million award for their discovery of synapses between brain cancer cells and neurons.

2025 Brain Prize honors pair of cancer neuroscientists
Michelle Monje and Frank Winkler share the $1.4 million award for their discovery of synapses between brain cancer cells and neurons.