Timothy Roberts

Professor Timothy Roberts serves as Professor of Radiology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), holding the Oberkircher Family Chair in Pediatric Radiology. His research focuses on the neural basis of language acquisition and impairment using magnetoencephalography (MEG) at CHOP's Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center, with recognition as a Distinguished Investigator by the Academy of Radiology Research.

Roberts investigates spectro-spatio-temporal brain activity underlying language processing, particularly neural anomalies in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His work explores modifying auditory streams to restore language abilities and examines neural sequelae of genetic alterations in auditory/language systems. Collaborations with Linguistics Chair David Embick investigate lexical access and priming neural signatures in typical development and ASD.

Analysis of Roberts' publications (2010-2017) reveals consistent use of MEG to identify autism biomarkers, evolving from auditory evoked response studies to advanced research on GABA concentrations and gamma-band oscillations. This trajectory demonstrates progressive refinement in understanding altered neurodevelopmental pathways in ASD.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Distinguished Investigator, Academy of Radiology Research

Roberts has secured multiple federal research grants from NIH and DoD supporting his work. While specific students aren't listed in source materials, his publication of several hundred manuscripts indicates extensive mentorship. His research involves cross-disciplinary teams including neuroimaging specialists and linguists.

Roberts leads the Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center at CHOP, directing pediatric neuroimaging research with specialized instrumentation for infant and child studies. His team maintains active collaboration with the Linguistics department to bridge neural and behavioral aspects of language processing.