I sat down and talked with Dr. Eriksson, and he said the best thing to me anybody had said in three weeks. He said, ‘Don't you worry; I can fix you.'
Michael Haynes Gulf War veteran and patient 
MUSC News
Read about the education, research and clinical advancements happening across the MUSC academic health system. Discover how our experts are empowering healthy communities, driving innovation and health transformation and reshaping the future workforce for South Carolina and beyond.
MUSC researchers hope to develop autism treatment
Driven largely by better screening and a broader definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), more kids are being diagnosed with autism than ever before. In 2000, for example, 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism as compared with 1 in 31 children in 2022.
With interest in autism rising, organizations such as the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) have spent millions of dollars looking for genetic links and possible treatments for this condition. Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has been the recipient of SFARI’s generosity – specifically, the lab of Christopher Cowan, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neuroscience at MUSC.
One focus of Cowan’s research, which is also funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other foundations, is single-gene causes of severe forms of syndromic autism.
Recent News Releases
Matthew M. “Matt” Medley named CEO of MUSC Health-Orangeburg
MUSC Health acquires Palmetto Primary Care Physicians
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital launches advanced pediatric endoscopy program and pancreas...
Topics
Podcasts
Events
In Our DNA SC - Lancaster
calendar_today Monday, May. 4
In Our DNA SC - Columbia
calendar_today Thursday, May. 7
In Our DNA SC - Florence
calendar_today Thursday, May. 7
In Our DNA SC - Lancaster
calendar_today Monday, May. 11
In Our DNA SC - Florence
calendar_today Thursday, May. 14
In Our DNA SC - Carnes Crossroads
calendar_today Monday, May. 18
In Our DNA SC - Lancaster
calendar_today Monday, May. 18
Social
Stories
More MUSC news
MUSC News + College of Graduate Studies
This biomedical Ph.D. candidate has a winning formula for sharing her research
MUSC News + Emergency and Trauma
Florence doctor shares cautionary tale of patient’s accidental weight loss drug overdose
MUSC News + College of Nursing
Top nurses from MUSC honored at the Palmetto Gold Awards
MUSC News + Behavioral Health
Can a weight-loss drug reduce alcohol cravings?
MUSC News + Neuroscience
MUSC researchers hope to develop autism treatment
MUSC News + Enterprise
MUSC engages African Americans in pivotal Parkinson’s research
MUSC News + Womens Health
Rethinking complex gynecologic care starts with listening
MUSC News + Orthopaedics
MUSC brings spine surgery to ambulatory center in West Ashley
MUSC News + Education
New batch of residents match in Florence and Lancaster
MUSC News + Behavioral Health
Understanding and concern about autism self-diagnosis on social media
MUSC News + College of Medicine
Six-year-old Conway girl gets first successful partial heart transplant in South Carolina
MUSC News + Enterprise
A breakthrough for severe depression: MUSC Health delivers relief in days, not months
