About the Center

UC Irvine launched the Center for Autism Research and Translation (CART), a unique public-private partnership seeded by generous philanthropic support from the William & Nancy Thompson Family Foundation for Autism, to carry out a comprehensive research and treatment effort to develop novel, effective diagnostics and treatments for autism. 

CART is integrally connected to our large clinical autism center, the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, an extension of the current For OC Kids Neurodevelopmental Center. 

UC Irvine researchers who are investigating the neurobiology of autism include a wide array of scientists working  at the levels of the gene, molecule, cell, pathway/ system, brain, behavior and on innovative clinical trials. All share the goal of elucidating the brain bases for the neurodisorder.

More than 40 distinguished UC Irvine faculty members participate in CART, and all have re-focused their efforts to collaborate around the CART molecular-to-clinical discovery platform.

Our Vision

To improve the lives of individuals with autism and develop a cure through discovery, implementation, education and advocacy of novel care and treatment