About Us
Mission
- TRANSCEND’s mission is to improve outcomes in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) by using sophisticated and coordinated objective measures to characterize what can be changed in these conditions.
- By applying cutting-edge science, measurement technologies and informatics to treatment research and clinical-behavioral practice, TRANSCEND aims to minimize suffering, optimize quality of life for individuals and families, and maximize chances for individuals to reach their full potential - now.
TRANSCEND stands for Treatment Research and NeuroSCience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Our program includes:
- TRANSCEND Brain Research Program
- TRANSCEND Body Biomarker Program
- TRANSCEND Treatment Research Program
- TRANSCEND Translational Research Program
Based at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, TRANSCEND is a part of the new Partners Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which also includes the path-breaking LADDERS Clinic as well as a range of educational and service provider programs.
Partnership in Research
TRANSCEND is a network of like-minded researchers and clinicians devoted to pooling and integrating brain and body knowledge and research to help people with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Partnering in all research and treatment efforts will speed our progress toward understanding how best to help and support each person with ASD and everyone in their lives.
TRANSCEND offers a range of research opportunities that will fundamentally change the dynamic of the relationship between research and clinical practice by harboring data, having stable staff to coordinate, skill sets and projects, and providing the supporting cutting edge equipment and resource infrastructure that will enable the science to rapidly shift towards the directions that coalesce from all approaches. TRANSCEND has created opportunities for partnerships between:
- Clinicians and researchers
- Researchers and their research colleagues
- Researchers, clinicians and patients
Institutions and Resources
With our growing network of collaborators we “transcend” the separation between isolated silos of knowledge and integrate together the many levels of autism into a coherent and synergistic framework. Our collaborators include members of the:
- Anderson Laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
- MIT Media Lab, the Perinatal Research Laboratory at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,
- Immunology and toxicology laboratories at the M.I.N.D. Institute at UC Davis Medical Center,
- Ames Laboratory of metabolism studies at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute and
- Finegold Laboratory of microbiological studies at VA and UCLA Los Angeles
Unique, Whole Body Approach
TRANSCEND’s partners work from a model of autism that describes a complex whole body condition with many treatable facets. By measuring what happens when these brain and body components of autism are treated, we intend to find points of greater leverage that will increase functionality, open up opportunities and enhance well-being. By partnering with scientists who measure parallel treatment strategies in carefully chosen animal models we aim to deeply link laboratory and patient-based research.
TRANSCEND partners believe that while genes, brain and behavior are important in autism, progress in helping people now requires a more complex model. TRANSCEND is focused on developing the underlying science we need to understand how the inner metabolic pathways, neural processing and body physiology of ASD works and to use this knowledge to bring improvement.
TRANSCEND’s focus on the intercorrelation between the functions of the brain and-body is intended to hone in on ways in which treatment of the one can influence and improve the function of the other. Observant clinicians know that if we can make this “body machine” work better, behavior and cognition improve along the way.
Using Test Results
Utilizing the imaging facilities of the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging of Massachusetts General Hospital-Charlestown, we collaborate to unite measures across multiple levels including brain structure (MRI), brain function (EEG, MEG, fMRI), metabolism (metabolomics, biochemistry, immunology, toxic body burden) along with genetic and behavioral measures.
The TRANSCEND trademark is to integrate these measures and root them in a practical approach to the whole person. Rather than start with genes and look for behavioral correlates, we start with the brain and body experience of living with autism; and work to understand it in depth. From that foundation, we work outwards to consider causal mechanisms, identify treatment targets and measure treatment success.