Overview
Dr Franz's research focuses on improving access to evidence-based services and support for neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism, in low-resource, local and global communities.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
·
2023 - Present
Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry,
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Research Professor of Global Health
·
2023 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2019 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Adapting an early autism caregiver coaching intervention for telehealth delivery in low-resource settings: A South African study of the 'what' and the 'why'.
Journal Article Autism · May 2025 The COVID-19 pandemic required in-person interventions to be adapted for remote delivery all over the globe. In South Africa, an in-person cascaded task-sharing naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention was adapted for telehealth delivery in a lo ... Full text Link to item CiteAutism Digital Phenotyping in Preschool- and School-Age Children.
Journal Article Autism Res · April 2, 2025 There is a critical need for scalable and objective tools for autism screening and outcome monitoring, which can be used alongside traditional caregiver and clinical measures. To address this need, we developed SenseToKnow, a tablet- or smartphone-based di ... Full text Link to item CiteBehavioral characteristics of toddlers later identified with an autism diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, or combined autism and ADHD symptoms.
Journal Article J Child Psychol Psychiatry · February 2025 BACKGROUND: Autism commonly co-occurs with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but less is known regarding how ADHD symptoms impact the early presentation of autism. This study examined early behavioral characteristics of a community sample of ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Program (DN-IPT)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029Electrophysiological biomarkers of social engagement in autism
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Stellenbosch University (South Africa) ·
2002
M.B.B.Ch.