Verónica’s goal is to determine the etiology and the pathology of autism spectrum disorders. She also studies the role of stem cells in the development, evolution, and pathogenesis of mammalian cerebral cortex. Her laboratory studies autism in the postmortem brain with the goal of discovering new treatments for autism. Verónica trained at the Complutense and Autónoma Universities in Madrid, and at Columbia University, UCSF, and UC Davis. She has published 45 peer-review articles, contributed chapters to five books, collected nearly 5 million dollars in research grants, and serves as associate editor for two scientific journals. Verónica created and directs the International Conference on “Cortical Evolution”, and she is CEO of the non-profit “Ventricular Foundation”. Her outreach activities are focused on increasing diversity among Faculty, Staff and Students at the University. She also volunteers as an outreach teacher at Hispanic Integration Schools in the greater Sacramento area.