Welcome to Episode 309 of Autism Parenting Secrets. Most parents are told autism can only be identified after behavioral symptoms appear. But what if important biological clues exist much earlier? Dr. Judy Van de Water is a world-renowned immunologist at UC Davis whose research helped identify Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism, or MARA. It’s an immune-system-mediated subtype of autism connected to specific maternal autoantibodies that may impact fetal brain development during pregnancy. Dr. Michael Paul is the CEO of MARAbio and has spent decades helping advance autism-related diagnostics and emerging technologies designed to improve outcomes for children and families. Together, they explain how earlier biological detection may help families better understand risk, personalize interventions, and access support sooner. They also discuss how this research could lead to more targeted therapies and improved outcomes over time. The secret this week is… The Brain Requires INDEPENDENT Thinking You'll Discover: Why maternal antibodies may influence neurodevelopment and autism risk (3:23) How earlier detection could help families intervene sooner (15:03) Why personalized approaches may improve outcomes for autistic children (26:53) How understanding immune-system patterns may guide future interventions (20:59) Why hope and continued research matter for families navigating autism (36:56) About Our Guest: Judy Van de Water, PhD is Founder and Chief Science Advisor of MARAbio. She is a world-renowned immunologist and researcher at UC Davis whose work focuses on the role of the immune system in autism and developmental disorders. Her research helped identify Maternal Autoantibody Related Autism (MARA), an immune-system-mediated subtype of autism. Michael S. Paul, PhD is CEO of MARAbio. He has spent decades working in autism diagnostics, biotechnology, and emerging health technologies focused on improving outcomes for children and families affected by developmental disorders. www.marabio.com Additional Resources: To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.