LPH65: Dr. Eric Weiss on Brain Inflammation, Stem Cells, and Autism

Could autism be more than a behavioral condition?

This is what Dr. Eric Weiss is challenging with this work. Dr. Weiss spent decades as a surgeon and is the father to a son diagnosed with autism at age two. After years of trying every therapy he could find, a 2019 Duke University study on umbilical cord blood and stem cells changed everything for him. Today, his son lives independently, drives a car, and holds a job.

Dr. Weiss left surgery behind to treat autistic children full time, and he shares what he believes families should know about brain inflammation, gut health and the emerging research shaping his work. His story is a powerful reminder that caregiving sparks ingenuity, and that parents are often the first to push medicine into new territory. If you are raising a child with autism, supporting a family who is, or simply want to understand the science shaping the future of care, this episode will give you a lot to think about.