MODESTO  –The Modesto Area Partners in Science (MAPS) will offer a presentation entitled “Immune Activation in Autism” by Judy Van de Water, Ph.D., of the University of California, Davis on Friday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. in Sierra Hall 132 on the Modesto Junior College West Campus.

 Van de Water is currently the Director of the NIEHS funded Center for Children’s Environmental Health at UC Davis, investigating potential environmental risk factors contributing to the incidence and severity of childhood autism.  She will discuss potential risk factors such as the presence of antibodies in mothers that could be contributing to the incidence and severity of childhood autism.  Van de Water will explain how the autoantibodies were identified, and how they can be used as an early biomarker to detect autism risk.  The event is open to the public and admission and campus parking are free.

 Van de Water joined the faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine at UC Davis in 1999.  In 2000, she also joined the faculty of the newly formed UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute when she began her research on the immunobiology of autism.  Professor Van de Water’s laboratory pursues research programs pertaining to autoimmune and clinical immune-based disorders including the biological aspects of autism spectrum disorders. 

 The application of Van de Water’s immunopathology background has been instrumental in the dissection of the immune anomalies noted in some individuals with autism, and in the differentiation of various autism behavioral phenotypes at a biological level. 

 Van de Water holds both a B.S. in Biologic Sciences and a Ph.D. in Immunology from UC Davis.

 For more information about the MAPS program visit the website http://maps.events.mjc.edu/, the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Modesto-Area-Partners-in-Science/244618054801 or contact MJC Professor Noah Hughes at 209.575.6800 or hughesn@mjc.edu.