DR. HELEN TAGER-FLUSBERG

Dr. Tager-Flusberg received her doctorate in Experimental Psychology from Harvard University. Prior to arriving at Boston University in 2001, Dr. Tager-Flusberg was a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a Senior Scientist at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center/University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Dr. Tager-Flusberg has conducted research on autism for over 25 years, with special emphasis on language and social-cognitive impairments in this population using both behavioral and brain imaging methodologies. Her research also focuses on children with other genetically based neurodevelopmental disorders, including specific language impairment, and Williams syndrome. Her research explores the connections between genes, brain pathology and cognitive and language impairments in these populations, as well as in autism. Dr. Tager-Flusberg's research has been funded by many grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, the National Alliance for Autism Research and the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation. Her current grants include a program project grant that is part of the NIH funded Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism and an NIH Autism Research Center of Excellence established at Boston University School of Medicine.

Dr. Tager-Flusberg serves on the editorial board of several professional journals, including the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Applied Psycholinguistics.

Dr. Tager-Flusberg teaches seminars on Autism and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, and offers a lecture in the Medical Neuroscience course.

Some of her current service commitments include Chair of the Department's Pathways Committee and member of the departmental Faculty Appointment, Promotion and Development Committee. Dr. Tager-Flusberg also serves on the Committee on Faculty Affairs and the Conflict of Interest Committee for Boston Medical Center.