Personal profile
Biography
Dr Gail Alvares is a principal research fellow at CliniKids, The Kids Research Institute Australia, leading a program of research into mental health and wellbeing for autistic children and their families. She is currently funded through a Stan Perron Charitable Research Foundation People grant, to lead research into understanding and discovering new ways in which to tackle emerging mental health challenges in autistic children. Her research has made international headlines, including research dispelling the misnomer of the term 'high functioning autism'. In 2016, she was selected in a national competition by ABC’s Radio National as a “Top 5 Under 40” scientist in Australia, and in 2022 was named in the “Top 40 under 40” autism researchers internationally by Spectrum News. Gail is passionate about science communication and community involvement in research.
Education/Academic qualification
Medicine (Brain & Mind Sciences), PhD, University of Sydney, Sydney
2010 → 2015
Award Date: 9 Jan 2015
Psychology, Bachelor of Psychology (Hons), University of Sydney, Sydney
2005 → 2008
Award Date: 8 May 2009
Research expertise keywords
- Autism
- Anxiety
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Clinical Trials
- Child health
- Youth mental health
- Child mental health
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Targeting intolerance of uncertainty in young children diagnosed with autism: A randomized controlled trial of a parent-mediated group intervention
Ong, C. S. Y., Rodgers, J., Cooper, M. N., Dempsey, Z., Eaton, R., Haines, K., Kuzminski, R., Magiati, I., Maybery, M. T., Uljarević, M., Wray, J., Whitehouse, A. J. O. & Alvares, G. A., 26 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: JCPP Advances. 13 p., e70027.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Content in Highly Viewed TikTok Videos
Alvares, G. A., Edwards, C., Licari, M., Marion, L., Munro, C., Munro, E., Paciente, R., Staniland, L., Ta, D. & Woolard, A., 23 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Autism in Adulthood. 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
The misnomer of ‘high functioning autism’: Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis
Alvares, G. A., Williams, K., Cleary, D., Evans, K., Glasson, E., Maybery, M., Pillar, S., Uljarevic, M., Varcin, K., Wray, J. & Whitehouse, A. J. O., 1 Jan 2020, In: Autism. 24, 1, p. 221-232 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
198 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
A Scoping Review of Digital Interventions Targeting Anxiety in Young Children
Coverdale, G., Perry, Y., Magiati, I., Badcock, N. A., Bollig, B. & Alvares, G. A., 3 Oct 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Child and Youth Care Forum. 41 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Movement difficulties in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: considering a transdiagnostic approach to classification
McQueen, M. C., Alvares, G. A., Reid, S. L., Miles, L. K., Earl, G. H. M. & Licari, M. K., 23 Aug 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Disability and Rehabilitation. 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Identification of subgroups of children in the Australian Autism Biobank using latent class analysis
Montgomery, A. (Contributor), Masi, A. (Contributor), Whitehouse, A. (Contributor), Veenstra-VanderWeele, J. (Contributor), Shuffrey, L. (Contributor), Shen, M. D. (Contributor), Karlov, L. (Contributor), Uljarevic, M. (Contributor), Alvares, G. (Contributor), Woolfenden, S. (Contributor), Silove, N. (Contributor) & Eapen, V. (Contributor), Figshare, 13 Apr 2023
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6578363
Dataset
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Investigating the effect of compression garments on autistic children's mental health
Alvares, G. (Investigator 02)
MRFF Medical Research Future Fund
1/12/24 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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Youth Safe Haven: an alternative to the emergency department for youth at risk of suicide in the Peel region
Lin, A. (Investigator 01), Hill, N. (Investigator 06), Perry, Y. (Investigator 07), Francis, J. (Investigator 09), Alvares, G. (Investigator 10), Mitrou, F. (Investigator 11), Saldaris, J. (Investigator 13), Downs, J. (Investigator 14), Jackson, B. (Investigator 16) & Strauss, P. (Investigator 17)
Department of Health (Western Australia)
1/06/22 → 31/05/23
Project: Research
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Round 8 - Preventative mental healthcare for young children with autism
Alvares, G. (Investigator 01), Whitehouse, A. (Investigator 02), Rodgers, J. (Investigator 03), Magiati, I. (Investigator 04) & Wray, J. (Investigator 05)
Department of Health (Western Australia)
1/07/20 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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Merit Award - Fellowships - Defining treatment response in autism spectrum disorder: a precision medicine approach
Alvares, G. (Investigator 01)
Department of Health (Western Australia)
1/07/17 → 30/06/18
Project: Research