Petrus de Vries is founding director of the Centre for Autism Research in Africa (CARA) at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and current president of the International Society for Autism Research.
Petrus de Vries
Founding director
Centre for Autism Research in Africa, University of Cape Town
From this contributor
Autism research is becoming more diverse but not yet more global
Hosting the International Society for Autism Research annual meeting—which starts tomorrow—in Australia takes a step in that direction, making it easier for researchers, clinicians and advocates from the Western Pacific Region to participate.
Autism research is becoming more diverse but not yet more global
By
Petrus de Vries
14 May 2024 | 5 min read
What kind of autism research should we do, and where should we do it?
Researchers at INSAR 2023 need to discuss these questions and remember that the purpose of research may be different for different communities.
What kind of autism research should we do, and where should we do it?
By
Petrus de Vries
3 May 2023 | 6 min read
How to offer support for young autistic children in South Africa
Coaching caregivers in early-intervention strategies may be the most effective way to help young autistic children in South Africa.
How to offer support for young autistic children in South Africa
By
Lauren Franz, Petrus de Vries
22 January 2019 | 6 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Eighteen teams analyzed the same neurophysiology dataset—and got wildly different answers
The “Brainhack” hackathon revealed that disagreement in neuroscience runs deeper than most researchers suspect—even in electrophysiology, a field that prides itself on hard data.
Eighteen teams analyzed the same neurophysiology dataset—and got wildly different answers
The “Brainhack” hackathon revealed that disagreement in neuroscience runs deeper than most researchers suspect—even in electrophysiology, a field that prides itself on hard data.
By
Gaëlle Chapuis, Mattia Chini
1 June 2026 | 7 min read
‘Unbelievably beautiful’ evidence extends Nobel Prize-winning model of vision
Orientation tuning—the ability to distinguish a horizontal line from a vertical one or something in between—originates in the visual cortex, according to new mouse synapse imaging experiments.
‘Unbelievably beautiful’ evidence extends Nobel Prize-winning model of vision
Orientation tuning—the ability to distinguish a horizontal line from a vertical one or something in between—originates in the visual cortex, according to new mouse synapse imaging experiments.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
29 May 2026 | 5 min read
Bringing basic biology back to INSAR
As the International Society for Autism Research has grown over the past two decades, basic science has become less central, Christine Wu Nordahl says. This year, she and other meeting organizers aimed to change that.
Bringing basic biology back to INSAR
As the International Society for Autism Research has grown over the past two decades, basic science has become less central, Christine Wu Nordahl says. This year, she and other meeting organizers aimed to change that.
By
Diana Kwon
28 May 2026 | 6 min read