Welcome to ACE

The ACE and Healthy Infant Development Laboratory is dedicated to discovering the causes of autism and paving the way for more effective autism treatment. We focus on research to help identify what autism looks like in babies as young as 12 months. Our research is completely funded by grants and donations from people like you! Read More

Concerned Your Child Has Autism?

A recent CDC report (2018) notes that 1 in 59 children born each year will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Are you concerned your child might be one of them?

Early warning signs of autism
Request an autism evaluation for your child aged 12-36 months if you live in the greater San Diego area
ASD Prevalence & Statistics provided by the CDC

Health Hero Highlights

Our Center is happy to introduce the Health Hero of the Month! Every month we will be highlighting a healthcare staff member within our pediatric network who has demonstrated an outstanding job at identifying early signs of developmental delays and supported their community.

This January and February, we selected Krystina Markarian from Scripps Clinic in Carlsbad and Tony Ryan from Children's Primary Care Medical Group in Chula Vista as the Health Heroes of each month!

Click here to read more about Krystina and Tony!

Krystina Markarian

Tony Ryan

News & Events

Dr Pierce's Journey With Autism

Kids help Kids & Donate $6,400 to Autism Research!

Two incredibly talented musicians, Alvin (10) and Caitlin (8), electrified the audience in their Believe- Benefit Concert hosted on June 10th, 2018. Their Concert raised a total of $6,400 and all donations go to research focused on discovering the causes of autism at the UCSD Autism Center of Excellence. Read more here.

The UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence thanks everyone who kindly donated to the Concert and supported this event. The Center is especially appreciative and grateful for the generous donation from the entire Wang Family!

Click here to watch the performance!

Eric Courchese: Reaching for the rings in autism research

Read the article here

UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence partners with Simons Foundation SPARK study to help launch largest ever autism research study in the U.S.

Click here to read more about the study. If you are interested in participating, please contact study coordinator at (858) 534-6906 or email us at info-ace@ucsd.edu.

"Lack of Autism Screening Could Delay Care, Services," San Diego Union Tribune

Drs. Eric Courchesne and Karen Pierce respond to the recent declaration by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Read the article here.

Eye Gaze Patterns as Biomarkers

A recent study by Karen Pierce and colleagues shows eye gaze patterns might be a powerful biomarker of a subype of ASD.
Read more here.

Brain Imaging Explains Reasons for Good and Poor Language Outcomes in ASD Toddlers

Using functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI), UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers say it may be possible to predict future language development outcomes in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), even before they've been formally diagnosed with the condition. The findings are published in the April 9 online issue of the journal Neuron.

Video Abstract