Kristin Sainani is associate teaching professor of epidemiology and population health at Stanford University in California.
Kristin Sainani
Teaching professor
Stanford University
From this contributor
Journal Club: Meta-analysis oversells popular autism screen
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) accurately flags autistic toddlers, a new systematic review and meta-analysis suggests, contrary to past evidence that the tool’s validity varies depending on a child’s age and traits. Experts weigh in on the discrepancy.
Journal Club: Meta-analysis oversells popular autism screen
By
Spectrum
14 March 2023 | 5 min read
Flawed methods undermine study on undiagnosed autism and suicide
The researchers attempted to retroactively identify signs of autism in people who died by suicide, but their analysis is not convincing.
Flawed methods undermine study on undiagnosed autism and suicide
By
Kristin Sainani
28 February 2022 | 3 min read
Study links screen time to autism, but problems abound
The paper relied on parent-reported data and adjusted for few potentially confounding variables.
Study links screen time to autism, but problems abound
By
Kristin Sainani
1 February 2022 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Dispute erupts over universal cortical brain-wave claim
The debate highlights opposing views on how the cortex transmits information.
Dispute erupts over universal cortical brain-wave claim
The debate highlights opposing views on how the cortex transmits information.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
12 December 2025 | 5 min read
Waves of calcium activity dictate eye structure in flies
Synchronized signals in non-neuronal retinal cells draw the tiny compartments of a fruit fly’s compound eye into alignment during pupal development.
Waves of calcium activity dictate eye structure in flies
Synchronized signals in non-neuronal retinal cells draw the tiny compartments of a fruit fly’s compound eye into alignment during pupal development.
By
Lauren Schneider
12 December 2025 | 0 min watch
Among brain changes studied in autism, spotlight shifts to subcortex
The striatum and thalamus are more likely than the cerebral cortex to express autism variants or bear transcriptional changes, two unpublished studies find.
Among brain changes studied in autism, spotlight shifts to subcortex
The striatum and thalamus are more likely than the cerebral cortex to express autism variants or bear transcriptional changes, two unpublished studies find.
By
Holly Barker
11 December 2025 | 5 min read