Faculty

Photo of Lane Strathearn

Lane Strathearn, MBBS FRACP PhD

Title/Position
Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Psychological and Brain Sciences
Dr. Strathearn is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and the Director of the Attachment and Neurodevelopment Lab. His research and clinical work focuses on the neurobiology of mother-infant attachment, and neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism. This includes a longitudinal study of women and their infants, examining maternal brain and hormone responses to infant facial expressions using functional MRI. His work explores the development of attachment behavior, and how drugs of abuse may highjack these relationships. He is also studying the long-term effects of child maltreatment on cognitive and emotional development, and early childhood factors that may help to protect against abuse or neglect. His research has drawn upon the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) birth cohort of over 8000 mothers and children who have been followed over 20 years. His current research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health examines maternal brain responses of drug-addicted mothers, the potential role of intranasal oxytocin to enhance parental caregiving, and epigenetic risk markers for autism. Dr. Strathearn is Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, and Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is also the Division Director for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Iowa, co-director of the Hawkeye Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (Hawk-IDDRC), and Physician Director of the Center for Disabilities and Development at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. He holds the William E. Bell/Gail A. McGuiness Endowed Chair for Pediatric Neurodevelopment.

Research Team

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Allan Andersen, MD

Child Psychiatrist

Dr. Andersen is a clinician for young adults with ASD and ID.  He has published on safety related to elopement, sometimes called "wandering", in ASD and is conducting an IRB-approved research project on the delivery of diagnostic ASD services via telemedicine.  

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Ali McCue, M.A., CCC-SLP

Autism Center Clinic Coordinator
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Giana Alzein, BA

Research Assistant

Giana graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology and shortly after joined Dr. Strathearn's research lab. She is interested in working with pediatric populations and hopes to one day further research on Autism Spectrum Disorder. Outside of the lab, Giana enjoys hanging out with her cat and painting.

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Joy Edeh, MD

Graduate Research Asssitant
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Anya Nanjappa

Undergraduate Research Volunteer

Anya is a third-year student studying Psychology on the Pre-medicine track. She hopes to one day deliver healthcare to pediatric populations in underrepresented areas. Outside of lab, Anya enjoys watching movies and trying new cuisines