Peter Bearman

Sept. 20, 2007

Peter Bearman:
Determining the Causes of the Rising Number of Autism Cases

Peter Bearman, the Jonathan R. Cole Professor of Social Science and director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP), is one of 12 recipients of the NIH Pioneer Award. He will receive $2.5 million over five years. Bearman, an internationally recognized expert on network analysis, is known for his innovative work on adolescent sexual networks, networks of disease transmission, and genetic influences on same-sex preference.

Bearman’s research aims to identify to what extent each of the three competing autism theories—expanded criteria for diagnosing autism, environmental degradation, and genetic inheritance—is able to account for the rise in autism cases. Berman says many of the most innovative scholars working on autism today are at Columbia, from the Department of Sociology to the schools of medicine and public health. “This award,” he added, “will help Columbia continue to be identified as one of the universities leading the way in understanding the determinants of the autism epidemic.”

– Written by David Poratta.