Autism now affects 1 in 36 children in the U.S., but what happens after the diagnosis—and could the future of treatment lie in regenerative medicine?

In this powerful episode of Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel, we’re joined by Dr. Eric Weiss, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, regenerative medicine pioneer, and co-author of Educating Marston, a memoir chronicling his family’s journey navigating their son’s autism diagnosis.

Dr. Weiss opens up about the groundbreaking stem cell therapy that helped his son achieve once-unthinkable milestones, the science behind neuroinflammation in the autistic brain, and why umbilical cord stem cells may hold the key to improving symptoms like speech, socialization, and executive function.

We also explore the broader uses of stem cell therapy—from anti-aging to traumatic brain injury, and discuss the real-life challenges and triumphs of parenting a child on the spectrum.

This is a conversation about hope, science, and a future that may look very different for families living with autism.