Maureen Durkin

Professor of population health sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Maureen Durkin is professor and chair of population health sciences and Waisman Center investigator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her undergraduate degree and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. degrees in epidemiology from Columbia University. Her research focuses on the epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disabilities and childhood injuries, both globally and within the United States. She has collaborated in the development of cross-cultural methods for epidemiologic studies of developmental disabilities and methods for surveillance of childhood injuries and disabilities. She has also directed international studies on the prevalence and causes of neurodevelopmental disabilities in low-income countries. Durkin is currently a principal investigator in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network and other projects related to public health surveillance, epidemiology and care integration of autism and other developmental disabilities.

Explore more from The Transmitter

Tom Griffiths describes how neural networks, logic and probability theory together explain cognition

In his new book, “The Laws of Thought,” Griffiths shows how these three pillars of study complement one another and together form a solid foundation to eventually explain all of our cognition, from brain to mind.

By Paul Middlebrooks
11 March 2026 | 100 min listen
illustration of cell layers

This paper changed my life: Talia Lerner reflects on dopamine neuron diversity and the value of simple experiments

In a 2011 Neuron study, Stephan Lammel and his colleagues showed that dopamine neurons with different projections have different physiological properties. The work inspired Lerner to think about how to challenge widely held assumptions in the field.

By Talia Lerner
11 March 2026 | 6 min read

Portfolio of SCN2A gene variants, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 March.

By Jill Adams
10 March 2026 | 2 min read

privacy consent banner

Privacy Preference

We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. By clicking “Accept All,” you help us understand how our site is used and enhance its performance. You can change your choice at any time. To learn more, please visit our Privacy Policy.