THE EXPERTS
Lawrence Fung
Dr. Lawrence Fung is an associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He is the director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, director of the Neurodiversity Clinic, and principal investigator at the Fung Lab. His work, which focuses on autism and neurodiversity, traverses from multi-modal neuroimaging studies to a new conceptualization of neurodiversity and its application to clinical, educational, and employment settings. His lab advances the understanding of neural bases of human socio-communicative and cognitive functions by using novel neuroimaging and bioanalytical technologies. Using a community-based participatory research approach, his team devises and implements novel interventions to improve the lives of neurodiverse individuals by maximizing their potential and productivity. His work has been supported by various agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, Autism Speaks, California Department of Developmental Services, California Department of Rehabilitation, and philanthropy. He received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Cornell University and his M.D. from George Washington University. He completed his general psychiatry residency, child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, and postdoctoral research fellowship at Stanford.
Clinical Focus
- Autism
- Neurodiversity
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Neurogenetic conditions
- Psychiatric conditions with co-occurring neurologic symptoms
- Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor – University Medical Line, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Member, Bio-X
- Member, SPARK at Stanford
Administrative Appointments
- Director, Stanford Neurodiversity Project (2018 – Present)
- Director, Neurodiversity Clinic (2018 – Present)
- Attending physician, Pediatric Neuropsychopharmacology Clinic (2015 – 2018)
- Attending physician, Autism & Developmental Disabilities Clinic (2015 – Present)
Honors & Awards
- Chairman’s Award on Community Commitment and Engagement, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2020)
- Faculty Professional & Leadership Development Award, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2020)
- SOBP Travel Fellowship Award, Society of Biological Psychiatry (2017)
- Clinical Investigator Award / Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08), National Institute of Mental Health (2016-2020)
- Young Investigator Award, International Symposium on Functional NeuroReceptor Mapping of the Living Brain (2016)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
- Distinguished Fellow, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2024 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders (2023 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2022 – Present)
- Associate Editor, Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022 – Present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Helping Adults with Autism Perform & Excel (2021 – Present)
- President, Bay Area Autism Consortium (2021 – Present)
- Fellow, American Psychiatric Association (2019 – Present)
All Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations (12)
Professional Education
- Board Certification, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2015)
- Fellowship, Stanford University Medical Center, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2014)
- Board Certification, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry (2013)
- Residency, Stanford University Medical Center, General Psychiatry (2013)
- Internship, Stanford University, Psychiatry (2010)
- MD, George Washington University, Medicine (2009)
- PhD, Cornell University, Chemical Engineering (1998)
- MSE, Johns Hopkins University, Chemical Engineering (1996)
- B.S. (Honors), University of California at Berkeley, Chemical Engineering (1993)
Clinical Trials
Projects
- GABAergic Neurophysiology in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Stanford University (September 8, 2016 – May 31, 2020)
- Achieving Steady Work Among Adults With Autism Through Specialized Employment Program (April 1, 2020 – April 30, 2023)