![]() ![]() “We want to identify and address barriers for care - specifically for access to genetic testing for people on the autism spectrum and with developmental conditions.” “All of our efforts are aligned between the clinic, research, education and community engagement, and we hope to move all of them forward simultaneously,” Moreno De Luca says. Genetic testing has become increasingly available in recent years to help confirm various medical diagnoses or even predict outcomes in healthy children from families with genetic conditions, but an understanding of the connection between genetic differences and neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD and schizophrenia is more recent. ASD can be difficult to diagnose and usually involves an observation of behaviour, a physical examination and extensive consultation with the family, according to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Guidelines Task Force of the Canadian Pediatric Society. People with ASD may experience communication problems, have difficulty with social interactions and tend to repeat specific behaviours, according to Autism Canada. In 2019, Health Canada reported about one in 50 Canadian children and youth had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatric genetics a new and growing field He is an expert on the link between genetic changes and mental health conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, and will continue to lead his Precision Medicine in Autism (PRISMA) research program at the U of A. “CASA’s mission of providing evidence-informed and compassionate care is closely aligned with my strong advocacy to ensure that precision medicine and translational genomic interventions are broadly and equitably available for children with mental health needs, and these synergistic efforts are an important win for the families of Alberta and beyond,” Moreno De Luca says.Īs chair, Moreno De Luca will spend 20 per cent of his time seeing patients and will also help train new psychiatrists working with children and adolescents. “His research and his work alongside our staff and patients will help advance child and youth mental health care in Alberta, helping us to empower children, youth and families to thrive.”ĬASA, a local non-profit that delivers mental health services to Alberta children aged three to 18 who are not in the hospital, has recently been tapped by the Government of Alberta to expand its services across the province to the tune of $92 million over the next three years. Moreno De Luca to the mental health community in our community,” says CASA Mental Health CEO Bonnie Blakley. ![]() “CASA is excited to add the experience and expertise of Dr. “The priority will be to try to help families meet their needs in the way that best aligns with their values,” says Daniel Moreno De Luca, who was recently hired as an associate professor of psychiatry and was named the inaugural CASA Research Chair today. Knowledge translation is a key goal of the new CASA Research Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta, thanks to a donation of $4.5 million over 10 years. “Knowledge translation.” It’s a buzz phrase in the academic world these days, so to translate: It means taking new discoveries made through research and making them accessible in clinical settings for the benefit of patients as soon as possible. ![]()
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