Dr. Lauren Franz

Biography

Lauren Franz is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University. With a keen interest in autism and developmental trajectories, she has held significant roles as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on various clinical trials and research studies aimed at understanding and improving outcomes for children with autism. Dr. Franz has also been involved in studies leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict developmental patterns, enhancing the understanding of autism spectrum disorder. Her educational background includes extensive training at prestigious institutions, including a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke University and an honorary associate professorship at the University of Cape Town. Dr. Franz is committed to advancing research in autism, particularly in the context of early intervention and real-time risk surveillance using electronic health records. She is actively engaged in multiple grants focused on improving social engagement in autistic children and tailoring treatment targets for early intervention. Her work is aimed at bridging the gap in access to necessary services and supports for children diagnosed with autism, especially in underserved communities.

Research Interests