Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, October 18-19, 2018

International experts in the field of studying early development gathered to discuss hot topics of their field, mainly the issue of regression in different childhood developmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder, Rett syndrome, fragile x syndrome) and new approaches to study the pre-diagnostic period of these disorders. The First Göttingen Symposium on 'Late Detected Developmental Disorders' (LD3) - 'Challenging the Asymptomatic Early Development Assumption' lead to the foundation of a new interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and a new international consortium to study early development. New available methods and novel approaches to better understand typical and atypical developmental pathways, disorder related profiles and intervention strategies will enhance intensive research efforts in this area of interest in the near future. This meeting was a starting point for an interdisciplinary endeavor to follow these aims.