When Dr. Giacomo Vivanti talks about autism research, he doesn’t start with laboratories or data sets. He begins with the simple premise that autism can and should co-exist with a happy, fulfilling life.
That belief sits at the heart of his work, and now, at the centre of his new role as Dalhousie University’s Joan and Jack Craig Chair in Autism Research. Dr. Vivanti is focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing children with autism and their families today: bridging the gap between what science knows and what families actually experience.
“We know much more about autism now than we did a decade ago,” he explains. “But many families still struggle to access the right support at the right time.”
We know much more about autism now than we did a decade ago, but many families still struggle.
For Joan Craig, this work is deeply personal. Joan and her late husband, Jack Craig, founded Autism Nova Scotia after raising their son, Bob, who lives with autism, at a time when information, services, and supports were scarce. Their lived experience as parents shaped a lifelong commitment to improving understanding of autism and ensuring that families have access to timely, evidence-based supports.
In 2001, the Craigs took a bold step by endowing what was then Canada’s first university-based Chair in Autism Research at Dalhousie, laying the groundwork for decades of research, innovation, and system change in Nova Scotia and beyond.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Vivanti has been appointed as the Joan and Jack Craig Chair in Autism Research,” says Joan Craig. “His experience and leadership history are very impressive. The Craig Foundation looks forward to continuing a strong relationship with Dalhousie, where more groundbreaking research will support families and persons on the Autism spectrum.”
Closing the gaps that shape lives
Despite major advances in autism research, outcomes for many autistic individuals remain shaped by long waitlists, fragmented systems, and services that don’t always reflect individual needs. Vivanti points to preventable challenges that persist into adulthood such as limited communication, fewer educational and employment opportunities, and increased risks for physical and mental health conditions.
“These are outcomes that can be avoided and mitigated,” says Dr. Vivanti.
His research focuses on closing these gaps by connecting early identification of autism with timely, high-quality, and individualized intervention.
What works for one child doesn’t work for another child.
“What works for one child doesn’t work for another child,” he says.
“So, I’m trying to connect science to action. How can we use research to improve the overarching system so that all children, including the ones who are marginalized due to their complex needs, can have a fulfilling life.”
Why early matters
One of the clearest disconnects between research and practice, Dr. Vivanti says, lies in early diagnosis. Scientifically, autism can often be detected by a child’s second birthday. In reality, the average age of diagnosis is much later.
“That’s a gap,” he says. “And we can fill that gap.”
Instead of a system that waits for certainty, Dr. Vivanti advocates for one that anticipates need by supporting families as soon as concerns arise, rather than asking them to “wait and see.” Waiting, he notes, often leads to an escalation of challenges that could have been prevented.
In his new role as Chair, beginning August 1, 2026, Dr. Vivanti hopes to continue developing and testing early intervention programs delivered in a variety of settings, including daycares and preschools, embedding support directly into children’s everyday environments.
“Not necessarily in a health-care setting, but in an educational setting,” he explains, making services more accessible and more responsive to real life.
Empowering families as experts
Dr. Vivanti’s commitment to family-centred care is deeply personal. He grew up with two brothers on the autism spectrum and saw firsthand how families’ concerns were once dismissed, and children blamed for ‘bad behaviour’.
“Responses like that reflect a bias that unfortunately sometimes still exists,” he says. “The idea that the expert knows everything and families don’t know anything.”
In reality, he says, families are the true experts on their children.
“They know a child better than anybody else,” he says. “Families are going to tell us everything we need to know as professionals to build the support system that is needed.”
That philosophy underpins his approach to research and system design, particularly when it comes to addressing inequities across socioeconomic, racial, and cultural lines. Trust, he notes, is not evenly distributed across systems, and those barriers must be acknowledged and addressed.
A rare moment, and a rare opportunity
For Dr. Vivanti, the Joan and Jack Craig Chair represents a powerful convergence of opportunity, responsibility, and timing.
“We are at a moment where the science is very strong, the needs are clear, and the systems are actively evolving,” he says, pointing to Nova Scotia’s Provincial Preschool Autism Services as a real-world transformation already underway.
We are at a moment where the science is very strong, the needs are clear, and the systems are actively evolving.
“To me, this Chair is an opportunity to ensure this transformation is guided by the best available science and shaped by the needs of families and communities.”
By embedding research directly into service delivery, Dr. Vivanti aims to document outcomes, refine practices, and inform policy decisions, locally and beyond.
“The local experience is going to become a model globally,” he says.
Impact that lasts
Dr. Vivanti emphasizes that endowed Chairs like this one do more than support individual projects — they make sustained, systems-level change possible.
“What’s behind this is not just generosity, but vision,” he says. “Endowed Chairs provide the stability and resources that are needed to pursue ambitious long-term goals.”
That long view matters, he says, because early, effective support is not a cost, it’s an investment.
“Investing early means a big return on the investment,” he explains, pointing to reduced need for long-term supports and improved quality of life across the lifespan.
Ultimately, the goal is broader than any single program or province. “If we get this right, Nova Scotia has the potential to become a global leader in how autism services are designed and delivered, backed by science,” Dr. Vivanti says.
And at the centre of that vision is a future where autistic individuals, especially those who have been historically underserved, are supported to thrive.
“This is an investment in human potential and societal impact,” he says. “Because when children with autism are empowered to communicate, to be engaged, and to have the same opportunities as others, they contribute in their unique ways to the well-being of everybody.”