Nilanjan Sarkar

Study tests wearable technology to detect problem behavior before it happens

The goal of the wearable technology is to improve behavioral assessment of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities by predicting the precursors of problem behaviors and using that information to adjust therapeutic approaches.

New app to help pediatricians recognize autism risk in young children

Researchers have been awarded $1 million from the National Institute of Mental Health to evaluate a new mobile app designed to help pediatricians recognize autism risk in young children.

Elderly caucasian woman with her hands on a cane

‘Smart cane’ could one day help flag gait problems, falling risks more quickly

Falling is no joke when you’re a senior citizen or have other balance issues. Vanderbilt engineers are working on a ‘smart cane’ that could help physical therapists spot and treat problems sooner.

Humanoid robot helps train children with autism

An interdisciplinary team of mechanical engineers and autism experts at Vanderbilt University have developed an adaptive robotic system and used it to demonstrate that humanoid robots can be powerful tools for enhancing the basic social learning skills of children with autism.

Better tools needed to target autism treatments for children

Although an evaluation of existing treatments for children with autism spectrum disorders found positive results in some studies, better information is needed to target the right treatments to specific children.