SPD Scientific Work Group (SPD-SWG)
A group of renowned research scientists representing multiple disciplines has been meeting regularly since 2002 to discuss how their findings relate to explanations of the underlying mechanisms of Sensory Processing Disorder. Known as the SPD Scientific Work Group, this assembly also defines the additional studies needed as next steps to furthering understanding of SPD and solicits scientists to conduct the work.
The SPD Scientific Work Group collaboration began when the SPD Foundation (then the KID Foundation) sponsored a Sensory Processing Disorder research planning retreat in 2002 funded by the Wallace Research Foundation. This planning retreat brought together twelve researchers funded by National Institutes of Health grants to develop a blueprint for future research into SPD. These far-sighted planning efforts were continued at a second meeting in 2004 entitled The Neurobiology of Sensory Processing Disorder.
At the 2004 conference, the participants agreed to formalize their collaborative efforts as the Sensory Processing Disorder Scientific Work Group (SPD-SWG). In 2005, findings of many members were presented at the SPDF national conference in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2007, most of the members presented at the SPD Foundation national conference in New York City.
The SPD Scientific Work Group is engaged in research related to the following aspects of SPD. Abstracts of member studies may be found under Research, SPD-SWG in Our Library.
- Neuropathology: What are the underlying physiological, neurological, and biochemical mechanisms implicated in SPD?
- Differential Diagnosis: What is the evidence that SPD is a valid and separate condition from other developmental disorders?
- Defining Characteristics: What is the behavioral phenotype of SPD? What are necessary and specific signs and symptoms for a diagnosis of SPD?
- Treatment Effectiveness: Which treatments for SPD work effectively?
- Prevalence: What is the prevalence of SPD in the general population and in individuals with disabilities?
- Etiologies: What are the causes of SPD?
- Developmental pathway: What is the developmental trajectory of SPD?
Back to top
SPD-SWG Participants
Active members of the Sensory Processing Disorder Scientific Work Group (SPD-SWG) in December 2012 are listed below. To learn more about a member, click on the name.
| Roianne Ahn, PhD | STAR Center |
| Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, FBA | University of Cambridge, Autism Research Centre |
| Margaret L. Bauman, MD |
Harvard Medical School |
| Ayelet Ben-Sasson, ScD, OT |
University of Haifa |
| Margaret Briggs-Gowan, PhD |
University of Connecticut |
| Jennifer Brout, PsyD | SENetwork (Sensation and Emotion Network) |
| Joseph Buxbaum, MSc, PhD | Mount Sinai School of Medicine |
| Stephen Camarata, PhD | Vanderbilt University |
| Alice S. Carter, PhD | University of Massachusetts - Boston |
| Patricia L. Davies, PhD, OTR, FAOTA | Colorado State University |
| David Eagleman, PhD | Baylor College of Medicine |
| John J. Foxe, PhD | Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva |
| William J. Gavin, PhD | Colorado State University |
| H. Hill Goldsmith, PhD | University of Wisconsin -
Madison |
| Edward J. Goldson, MD | University of Colorado -
Denver Health Sciences Center |
| Matthew Goodwin, PhD | Northeastern University |
| Moya Kinnealey, PhD, OTR/L | Temple University |
| Michael A. Kisley, PhD | University of Colorado - Colorado Springs |
| Jane Koomar, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA | Spiral Foundation |
| Shelly J. Lane, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Edward D. Levin, PhD | Duke University Medical Center |
| David Lewkowicz, PhD | Florida Atlantic University |
| Elysa J. Marco, MD | University of California –
San Francisco |
| Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L | Spiral Foundation |
| Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, OTR | SPD Foundation |
| Sophie Molholm, PhD | Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University |
| Darci Nielsen, PhD | SPD Foundation |
| Shula Parush, PhD, OTR | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| David L. Pauls, PhD | Harvard Medical School |
| Rosalind Picard, ScD | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| M. Zachary Rosenthal, PhD | Duke University School of Medicine |
| Benjamin Rowland, PhD | Wake Forest University School of Medicine |
| Roseann C. Schaaf, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA | Thomas Jefferson University |
| Mary L. Schneider, PhD, OTR/L | University of Wisconsin - Madison |
| Sarah A. Schoen, PhD, OTR | SPD Foundation |
| Sinclair A. Smith, ScD | Drexel University |
| Barry E. Stein, PhD | Wake Forest University School of Medicine |
| Teresa Tavassoli, PhD | Seaver Autism Center – Mount Sinai School of Medicine |
| Mark Wallace, PhD |
Vanderbilt University |
Back to top
Back to top
Mail this page to a friend
|
