09:00-09:15 - Welcome from conference directors: Stefano Parmigiani, Paola Palanza, Costanza Colombi, Martin Brüne
09:00-09:15 - Welcome from parent associations – Antonio Costanza, ANFFAS Sicilia President, and Basilio Calabrese, ANFFAS Trapani President
09:15-09:40 - Introduction
: (Stefano Parmigiani, Director International School of Ethology "Dànilo Mainardi", Emeritus Professor and Emeritus Professor University of Parma)
09:40-10:00 - Why ethology for Psychology and Psychiatry
: (Paola Palanza, Co-Director International School of Ethology "Dànilo Mainardi" and Full Professor University of Parma)
10:00-10:50 - Effects of Early Experiences on Neurodevelopment in Human and Non-Human Primates
: (Pier Francesco Ferrari, Research Director CNRS, Lyon, France)
10:50-11:20 - coffee break
Session #2
11:20-12:10 - Can evolutionary theory inform us about the origin and nature of autism?
: (Martin Brüne, Psychiatrist, Full Professor, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany)
Session #3: Characteristics of infants and toddlers at high likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
12:10-12:25 - Atypical attentional processes as early precursors of autism: an eye-tracking longitudinal study
: (Valeria Costanzo)
12:25-12:40 - Toddlers, but not infants, with elevated autistic traits show lower executive function scores
: (Maryna Nosyk)
12:40-13:00 - Clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with access to early intervention programs for infants with prodromes of autism
: (Francesca Ieri, Eugenia Conti, Natasha Chericoni, Ilaria Colombino, Benedetta Riva, Valeria Costanzo, Fabio Apicella, Viviana Marchi, Sara Calderoni, Andrea Guzzetta, Costanza Colombi)
13:00 - Lunch
Session #4
14:30-15:20 - An evolutionary perspective on child development and autism
: (Annie Swanepoel, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, NELFT, UK)
15:20-16:10 - Continuities and Discontinuities between Autism and Schizophrenia: an Evolutionary and Developmental Perspective
: (Matteo Tonna, Psychiatrist, Associate Professor, University of Parma, Italy)
16:10 - Coffee Break
Session #5 - Short Communications: Brain Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder
16:40-17:00 - Exploring Brain Measures in infants at risk for autism: machine learning application to EEG data from Early Bird Diagnostic Protocol
: (Eugenia Conti)
17:00-17:15 - Using EEG to challenge ASD heterogeneity: Stratification of brain functional connectivity reveals clinically meaningful subgroups of ASD
: (Borja Herreros)
17:15-17:30 - The potential of circulating brain derived protein as a biomarker in infants at risk of autism spectrum disorder
: (Audrey Bringaud)
17:30 - Closing Remarks
15 November 2025
Session #6 - Opening – Welcome from the Directors
09:10-10:00 - Early Identification and Intervention for Prodromes of Autism Spectrum Disorder during the First Year of Life
: (Costanza Colombi, Senior Researcher, IRCCS Stella Maris, and Adjunct Professor, University of Michigan)
10:00-10:50 - Fetal Markers of Brain Abnormalities
: (Simona Fiori, Child Neurologist and Psychiatrist, Associate Professor University of Firenze, Italy)
10:50 - Coffee break
11:20-12:10 - Individual variability and developmental trajectories in infant siblings of autistic children during the first years of life
: (Valentina Riva, Psychologist, Researcher, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Como, Italy)
Session #7 - Short Communications: Parent mediated intervention
12:10-12:30 - SEEDS – Signs of Early Autism in infants: Early clinical Detection and parent coaching in high-risk Siblings. A prospective pilot study
: (Anastasia Dressler and Sarah Muresan)
12:30-12:45 - From parent fidelity to child progress: Evidence from C-ESDM in a Spanish population
: (Marìa Dìez-Juan)
12:45-13:00 - E-Coaching for parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): preliminary results of a randomized control trial
: (Nadia Chabane)
13:00 - Lunch
Session #8
14:30-15:20 - Neuroanatomical underpinnings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
: (Sara Calderoni, Child Neurologist and Psychiatrist, Associate Professor University of Pisa and IRCCS Stella Maris, Italy)
15:20-16:10 - Decomposing Heterogeneity in the AUTISMS
: (Michael Lombardo, Senior Researcher, Italian Institute of Technology, Trento, Italy)
16:10 - Coffee Break
16:40-17:30 - Autism, Cognitive Development and Early Intervention: A Neuroconstructivist Approach
: (Giacomo Vivanti, Full Professor, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA)
Session #9 - Short Communications: Group Based Early Interventions
17:30 - 17:45: Application of the Early Start Denver Model in Group Settings for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Ages 5–6): Preliminary Data from Level 3 ESDM Assessment; (Francesca Masina and Francesca Lorenzetti)
17:45-18:00 - Opportunities and challenges in adopting G-ESDM in Italian preschools. A study on feasibility and educational innovation for ASD inclusion
: (Emanuela Zappalà and Paola Aiello)
18:00 - Closing Remarks
16 November 2025
Social event - Trip to archeological sites, to be determined
Early departure
17 November
Departure