OBI Public Talk — Beyond the Diagnosis: The Future of Neurodiversity
How we understand conditions like autism and ADHD has changed significantly, and the science is still developing.
Not long ago, these conditions were treated mainly as problems to correct, with interventions aimed at making behaviour more "typical”. Today, researchers are looking beyond individual diagnoses to understand what these conditions have in common at a biological and behavioural level. This approach, developed in Ontario through the POND Network, is reshaping how we see these differences: not as something to fix, but as a natural and meaningful part of how the human brain develops. It is also guiding the studies, clinical trials, and treatment programs that translate this understanding into more effective, tailored support for people and families.
This talk follows that shift: from older models focused on what people couldn't do, to today's strengths-based approach, and toward a future where support is precise, personal, and built around those it's meant to serve.
Event details
- Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
- Time: 2 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
- Registration: Online | In-person (Downtown Toronto, ON)
What to expect
This is the first of three talks in OBI's Evolution of Brain Health series. Each one looks at a different area of brain health: where it started, where it stands today, and where it's heading.
About the event
How we understand conditions like autism and ADHD has changed significantly, and the science is still developing.
Not long ago, these conditions were treated mainly as problems to correct, with interventions aimed at making behaviour more "typical”. Today, researchers are looking beyond individual diagnoses to understand what these conditions have in common at a biological and behavioural level. This approach, developed in Ontario through the POND Network, is reshaping how we see these differences: not as something to fix, but as a natural and meaningful part of how the human brain develops. It is also guiding the studies, clinical trials, and treatment programs that translate this understanding into more effective, tailored support for people and families.
This talk follows that shift: from older models focused on what people couldn't do, to today's strengths-based approach, and toward a future where support is precise, personal, and built around those it's meant to serve.
What to expect
This is the first of three talks in OBI's Evolution of Brain Health series. Each one looks at a different area of brain health: where it started, where it stands today, and where it's heading.
Beyond the Diagnosis: The Future of Neurodiversity will explore:
- How our understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD has shifted over the past 15 years
- What OBI-funded research is revealing about how the brain works in these conditions
- The role of genetic insights and individualized support in moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches
- What schools, workplaces, and other spaces could look like when they're designed to include people who think and learn differently
About speakers:
Evdokia Anagnostou, MD
Researcher * POND Network
- Evdokia Anagnostou, MD is Vice President of Research and Director of the Bloorview Research Institute. As a child neurologist, she studies the different biologies (from genes to brain structure function, to omics) underlying neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Anagnostou is a Senior Clinician Scientist, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto; Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Translational Therapeutics in Autism. And is the co-director of the POND program and co-lead of several national and international clinical trials leveraging POND.
Allison Chang, MSW, RSW
Patient Advisory Committee * POND Network
- Allison Chang is a doctoral researcher at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, where she holds a Doctoral Research Fellowship. Her work focuses on neurodevelopmental conditions, with a particular interest in autism and ADHD that occur together. She has been a long-standing member of the POND Network's Patient Advisory Committee, examining quality-of-life measures for autistic young adults, and is part of an OBI-funded initiative building a national network for children and youth with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Moderator:
- Dr. Jordan Antflick is the Head of Integrated Discovery at the Ontario Brain Institute. Jordan holds an Honours BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, where he also completed the Collaborative Program in Neuroscience.