COLUMBIA - Dr. David Beversdorf, Associate Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Neurology and researcher for the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, has achieved two major milestones in the history of the Thompson Center. Beversdorf was recently selected to be the first William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Radiology. This prestigious honor was bestowed because of his many accomplishments in autism research, teaching and service. The Endowed Chair also recognizes his leadership role in future Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research. It will provide funding to allow him protected time for his research activities and for interdisciplinary collaboration. Beversdorf joins Dr. Judith Miles, who holds the William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Chair in Child Health. The Thompson's funded these Endowed Chairs in 2005 to support clinical and translational research that will improve the lives of those with ASD and to enhance the Thompson Center's national reputation as a leader in the field.

In addition to the Endowed Chair honor Beversdorf was invited to join the editorial board of the Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, a leading journal in the field of autism. This journal reviews over 500 manuscripts per year and accepts less than 50%. He has been awarded a grant from the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Foundation to examine the role of pre-natal stressors and genetics and has presented that work at the Current Trends in Autism Conference at the Harvard/Ladders Program. He is also now the Graduate Studies Chair for the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and has joined the Science Committee for the American Academy of Neurology.