The Autism Eats study is supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health. Our team members include USF faculty investigators, student research assistants, and the Early Steps liaison staff.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Gray is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. She is trained in behavioral nutrition and her research focuses on improving eating behaviors of children with ASD and preventing diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, heart diseases, and type 2 diabetes in individuals with ASD. She uses evidence-based feeding strategies and behaviorally-focused nutrition education for children with ASD and their families.

Co-Investigators

Student Research Assistants

Tiantian Pang, MPH, CPH

Claudia Jimenez, BS

Ankeeta Klinger, RDN

Samuel Won

Jana Kandil

Alanis Rosado

Apoorva Desaraju

Community Partner

Early Steps Staff

Melissa Rivera Ruiz

Contact the Team