Catherine Lord is distinguished professor of psychiatry and education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She specializes in diagnosis, social and communication development, and intervention in autism.
Catherine Lord
Director, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain
Weill Cornell Medicine
From this contributor
Your questions about the Lancet Commission and ‘profound autism,’ answered
Tony Charman and Catherine Lord answer questions from Spectrum’s webinar on the Lancet Commission’s recommendations for autism research.
Your questions about the Lancet Commission and ‘profound autism,’ answered
By
Spectrum
15 February 2022 | 6 min read
Catherine Lord: Lessons from a storied career in autism research
Catherine Lord's career has been defined by relationships: with mentors, protegees and, above all, with autistic people and their families.
Catherine Lord: Lessons from a storied career in autism research
By
Catherine Lord
3 December 2019 | 6 min read
Measures of success for adults with autism need to mature
As children with autism grow into adults, the challenge is in measuring the skills that matter most in their daily lives.
Measures of success for adults with autism need to mature
By
Catherine Lord
17 November 2015 | 5 min read
Optimal outcome
Some children classified as having autism outgrow their diagnosis, but it’s not yet clear why this group does better, says Cathy Lord.
Autism and the arts: “Lucy” captures disorder‘s complexity
Itʼs not often that movies, books and plays represent science accurately, or with a true and empathetic understanding of its complexity.
Autism and the arts: “Lucy” captures disorder‘s complexity
By
Catherine Lord
28 January 2008 | 5 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method
Several known but usually negligible MRI artifacts contribute to the neuronal activity signal picked up by the method, according to a preprint the authors posted earlier this month.
Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method
Several known but usually negligible MRI artifacts contribute to the neuronal activity signal picked up by the method, according to a preprint the authors posted earlier this month.
By
Calli McMurray
25 September 2025 | 6 min read
In memoriam: Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, autism philanthropist
Fueled by business success and her son, she played an outsized role in British autism research.
In memoriam: Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, autism philanthropist
Fueled by business success and her son, she played an outsized role in British autism research.
By
Lauren Schneider
25 September 2025 | 6 min read
Ann Kennedy explains the theoretical neuroscience of survival behaviors
The Scripps neuroscientist calls for a broader theoretical neuroscience approach in her area of research, which focuses on how the subcortex bridges life and cognition.
Ann Kennedy explains the theoretical neuroscience of survival behaviors
The Scripps neuroscientist calls for a broader theoretical neuroscience approach in her area of research, which focuses on how the subcortex bridges life and cognition.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
24 September 2025 | 1 min read