The MEND Research Clinic

02/26/2026

Contact our coordinators at Rowan.atwood@vumc.org and maria.bonnee@vumc.org to hear more about our current studies!

02/26/2026

Medical causes of aggression in Autism!

😠Aggression in autism isn't just behavioral—it can have underlying medical causes! 🚨 Many individuals with autism experience pain or discomfort they may struggle to express, leading to meltdowns or aggression.

Some possible medical triggers include:
🔹 GI issues (constipation, reflux, gut pain)💩
🔹 Seizures ⚡
🔹 PANDAS/PANS (immune system dysfunction)🧠
🔹 Allergies & food intolerances 🍞🥜
🔹 Pain & headaches 🤕

Instead of seeing aggression as a "behavior problem," we must presume competence and look for root causes! 🩺 Every person with autism deserves to have their pain recognized and treated.

Read more here 👉 https://tacanow.org/family-resources/medical-causes-of-aggression-in-autism/

02/20/2026

Upcoming Community Event! On Saturday, March 7th, you can join us at the Autism Tennessee's Game Day! There will be a variety of games like Connect4 and Scrabble to play in a relaxed environment. It is a welcoming space for children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. There will be pizza, drinks, and other snacks provided. You can find more information and register for the event at

Tennessee's leading autism organization providing support programs, helpline, social groups & employment services for autistic individuals & families.

02/13/2026

SCUBA Research Study— recruiting now!!

01/23/2026

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) is an incredibly valuable resource for families and professionals alike, offering best practices to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. Feel free to explore the abundance of resources offered at https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/. Here are some upcoming events at the VKC for families and researchers that we would love to highlight!

Monday, January 26, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00pm CST: TRIAD Families First Webinar - Toilet Training [Virtual]

Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00pm CST: Research Ethics Grand Rounds Webinar: The Ethical Implications of AI Usage in Disability Research

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 12:00 - 1:00pm CST: Kennedy Center Lectures on Development and Developmental Disabilities: Menstrual Cycle Hormone Sensitivity in Neurodevelopmental and Mood Disorders: Implications for ADHD, Autism, and Adolescent Su***de Risk

Contributions from individuals and organizations help fuel the VKC’s mission by allowing it to expand its research, training, clinical services, and more. Learn more.

01/14/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id2DoiiuwlA

An autism diagnosis for his son motivated Nico Acampora in Italy to open a restaurant staffed only by those on the autism spectrum. Everything in PizzAut is ...

01/05/2026

Participate now for a free picture of your brain!

09/25/2025

Are you interested in how the brain perceives faces? Help us find out!

Reach out to our new coordinator via email at rowan.atwood@vumc.org for more information, or to get started with participation!

01/07/2025

We are still recruiting participants for our TMS study in 2025! Please reach out with any questions to the contact below. Happy to chat with anyone who is interested! :)

11/01/2024

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is actively recruiting participants for our TMS research study. Please reach out with any questions to the contact below.🙂

08/26/2024

Recruiting participants for TMS Study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center!

Study Title: Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation for Catatonia in Autism

We are looking for individuals, ages 15-40 years old diagnosed with ASD with or without catatonia. The study consists of 4 visits.

Please reach out to Seri Lim (research coordinator) at for more information.

08/26/2024