Our Research
Our team is interested in all biological aspects of autism that hold the potential to unravel the mechanisms that cause and maintain autism. A critical focus is on developing biological treatments that make a real difference in the lives of people with autism. Our ultimate goal is nothing less than the identification of the cause of autism, its prevention, treatment and cure.
In particular, our work focuses on oxidative stress, inflammation, gastrointestinal and immune function plus nutritional, environmental and toxicological variables.
Selected Publications
- Shandley, K., & Austin, D. W. (2011). Ancestry of Pink Disease (Infantile Acrodynia) identified as a risk factor for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Part A. 74:18, 1185-1194
- Gondalia, S. V., Palombo, E. A., Knowles S. R. & Austin, D. W. (2010). Faecal microbiota of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology, 6(2): 24-29.
- Garrecht, M, and Austin, D. W. (2011), The plausibility of a role for mercury in the etiology of autism: A cellular perspective , Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, First published on: 19 May 2011 (iFirst)
- Austin, D. W. (2008). An epidemiological analysis of the 'autism as mercury poisoning' hypothesis. International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine 20 (3), 135-142.
- Austin, D. W., Abbott, J., & Carbis C., (2008). A Case Study assessing the use of Virtual Reality Hypnosis in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Contemporary Hypnosis. 25 (2), 102-109.
- Austin D. W., & Shandley, K. (2008). An investigation of porphyrinuria in Australian children with Autism. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A, 71 (20): 1403-1405.
- Austin, D. W. , Shandley, K. A. & Palombo, E. A. (2010). Mercury in Vaccines from the Australian Childhood Immunization Program Schedule, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 73: 10, 637 - 640.
- Brown, C. M., & Austin, D. W. (2009). Fatty acids, breastfeeding and autism spectrum disorder. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology: Innovations in Autism. 5(1): 49-52
- Brown, T. G., Leo, M., & Austin, D. W. (2008). The discriminative validity of the Sensory Profile when used with children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 28 (3), 253-266.
- Gondalia, S. V., Palombo, E. A., Knowles S. R. & Austin, D. W. (2010). Gastrointestinal microbiology in Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A review. Reviews in Medical Microbiology, 21(3):44-50
- Shandley, K., & Austin, D. W. (2010). Reconceptualising autism: Moving beyond the behavioural to address cause, cure and prevention. Autism Insights, 2, 25-30
- Brown, C. M., & Austin, D. W. (2011). Autistic Disorder and Phospholipids: A Review. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 84: 25-30.