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Dejan B. Budimirovic

Dejan B. Budimirovic, MD

Psychiatry

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:
  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

Languages

  • Serbian
  • Bosnian
  • Croatian
  • English

Gender

Male

About Dejan B. Budimirovic

Professional Titles

  • Attending Psychiatrist, NBU and Outpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Main Co-Investigator, Clinical Trials Unit, Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Medical Co-Director, Fragile X Clinic

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Background

Dr. Budimirovic earned his undergraduate degree from a pre-medical nursing program and his medical degree from Belgrade University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He then completed residencies at Belgrade, Harvard, and New York University School of Medicine, respectively. He is an attending child neuropsychiatrist, main sub-Investigator, and the medical co-director of the Fragile X Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Under his leadership, the Clinic has been critical in establishing the Institute’s Clinical Trials Unit. He is also an assistant professor of psychiatry & behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is an active member of the Fragile X Clinical and Research Consortium and its Clinical and Clinical Trials Committees, respectively.

 

Clinical Trial Keywords

fragile x; autism spectrum disorder; anxiety; developmental disabilities; mood disorders; ADHD; sleep disorders

Clinical Trials Summary

To date, Dr Budimirovic participated in a total of 28 clinical trials not only in the field of pediatric and adult FXS but also in idiopathic ASD, pediatric depression, anxiety, mood and sleep disorders, pediatric and adult ADHD. Currently, Dr. Budimirovic remains the main Sub-Investigator physician at KKI’s CTU, with variable percentage effort for 12 ongoing clinical trials. In addition, several new clinical trials are expected to be approved soon by JHH IRB.

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

  • Fragile X Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Similarities and Differences, National Fragile X Foundation (December 18, 2014)

  • Expertise in Fragile X Syndrome, ExpertScape

  • Insight and Recommendations for Fragile X-Premutation-Associated Conditions from the Fifth International Conference on FMR1 Premutation, MDPI (2023)

Research Interests

ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, fragile X associated disorders, mood disorders, sleep disorders

Research Summary

Dejan Budimirovic, M.D., is a nationally and internationally recognized developmental neuropsychiatrist and an expert in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). His expertise is in fragile X-associated disorders (FXD) across all ages, including FMR1 gene full-mutation, clinical fragile X syndrome (FXS)†, and the pre-mutation-linked fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders‡. 

Through his impactful clinical and research efforts, Dr. Budimirovic has also delivered a sustained therapeutic benefit for many of his patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related disorders; along with an advanced ASD-related clinical shadowing educational experience for over 30 undergraduate pre-med students from Johns Hopkins University over the last 12 years. 

With approximately 23,000 outpatient visits during the previous 20 years and over 70 ongoing   and past clinical studies as the main sub- and principal investigator, respectively, at the Kennedy Krieger Institute over the last 12 years, he has also demonstrated expertise in diagnosis, evaluation, and management of ADHD, major depression, bipolar, and anxiety and other psychiatric disorders with and without FXD or/and ASD. 

Thus, Dr. Budimirovic is a seasoned clinician who has provided diagnosis, evaluation, and both drug- and non-drug management using the biopsychosocial integrative model supplemented by relevant neuropsychological, behavioral, and other available evaluations. 

Dr. Budimirovic’s referrals have mainly come from the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, with the majority from the States of Maryland and Virginia, including about 20% from the States of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, DC, Delaware, California, New York, and Florida. About 3-5% were international referrals from Europe, South and Central America, and the Middle East sought second opinions, including the most challenging neurobehavioral patients with complex NDDs. 

In summary, as a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the field of NDDs with specific expertise in FXD, ASD, and co-occurring disorders, Dr. Budimirovic’s clinical activities include diagnosis, evaluation, and comprehensive management, along with the utilization of the latest cutting-edge clinical trial modalities. 

Selected Publications

  • Budimirovic, D.B., & Kaufmann, W.E. (2011). What Can We Learn About Autism from Studying Fragile X Syndrome? Developmental Neuroscience, 33 (5), 379-394. DOI:10.1159/000330213. (PMID: 21893949).

  • Budimirovic, D.B., Bukelis, I., Cox, C., Gray, R., Tierney, E., & Kaufmann, W.E. (2006). Autism Spectrum Disorder in Fragile X Syndrome: Differential Contribution of Adaptive Socialization and Social Withdrawal. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 140A (17), 1814-1826. DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.31405. (PMID: 16906564)

  • Budimirovic, D.B., Levitt, J., & Garshick, E. (2001). A Case of Treatment-Resistant  Schizoaffective Disorder-Bipolar Type and Sleep Disordered Breathing. Engram 22 (3-4), 127-152. Serbian.

  • Coffee, B., Ikeda, M., Budimirovic, D.B., Hjelm, L.N., Kaufmann, W.E., & Warren, S.T. (2008). Mosaic FMR1 Deletion Causes Fragile X Syndrome and Can Lead to Molecular Misdiagnosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 146A, 1358-1367. DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.32261. (PMID:18412117)

  • Djukanovic, R., Tanurdzic, S., Ljaljevic, M., Ljaljevic, J., & Budimirovic, D.B. (1987). Factors increasing nonspecific reactivity in the bronchial tree in patients with bronchial asthma. Lung Disease, 39(1-2), 25-30. (PMID: 3441551)

  • Hinton, R., Budimirovic, D.B., Marschik, P.B., Talisa, V.B., Einspieler, C., Gipson, T., Johnston, M.V.  (2013). Parental Reports on Early Language and Motor Milestones in Fragile X Syndrome with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 16(1):58-66. DOI: 10.3109/17518423.2012.704414. (PMID: 23249372).

  • Kaufmann, W.E., Capone, G., Clarke, M., & Budimirovic, D.B. (2008). Autism in Genetic Intellectual Disability: Insights into Idiopathic Autism. In Zimmerman, A.W. (Ed.), Autism: Current Theories and Evidence (81-108). Totowa, NJ: The Humana Press Inc.

  • Kucka, M., Tomic, M., Bjelobaba, I., Stojilkovic, S.S., & Budimirovic, D.B. (2015). Paliperidone and aripiprazole differentially affect the strength of calcium-secretion coupling in female pituitary lactotrophs. Nature Sci. Rep. Mar 10;5:8902; DOI:10.1038/srep08902. (PMID: 25754735).

  • Lozano, R., Hagerman, R.J., Duyzend, M., Rothfuss, M.,Budimirovic, D.B., Evan, E. E., Tassone, F (2014).  Genomic Studies in Fragile X Premutation Carriers. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 6(1):27. DOI:10.1186/1866-1955-6-27. Epub 2014 Jul 30. (PMID: 25170347).

  • Marschik, P.B., Kaufmann, W.E., Einspieler, C., Bartl-Pokorny, K.D., Wolin, T., Pinid, G., Budimirovic, D.B, Zappella, M., & Sigafoos, J. (2012). Profiling Early Socio-communicative Development in Five Young Girls with the Preserved Speech Variant of Rett Syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(6), 1749–1756. DOI:  10.1016/j.ridd.2012.04.012. (PMID: 22699249).

  • Marschik, P.B., Sigafoos, J., Kaufmann, W.E., Wolin, T., Talisa, V.B., Bartl-Pokorny, K.D., Budimirovic, D.B, Vollman, R., Einspieler, C. (2012). Peculiarities in the gestural repertoire: An early marker for Rett syndrome? Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(6), 1715–1721. DOI:  10.1016/j.ridd.2012.05.014.(PMID: 22699245).

  • Nikolic-Zugic, J., Jovanovic, T., Pravica, V., Budimirovic, D.B., & Lukic, M.L. (1990). Specific Antigen Induced Down Regulation of T Cells Response to Herpes Simplex Virus. Giornale di Malattie Infettive e Parassite 42 (7), 520-523.

Courses & Syllabi

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Basic Concept of Behavioral Phenotypes, Kennedy Krieger Institute, ME: 990.510, 990.607, 990.705, 990.803, 9/1/11

Honors

  • Yearly selections by the Marquis Who's Who in America, Marquis Who's Who, 1/1/07
  • Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the subspecialty of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, ABPN, 4/1/00
  • Certificate of Excellence from the Faculty and Director of the Child &Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center & the Bellevue Hospital, New York University School of Medicine, NYC, 6/30/99
  • Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, ABPN, 5/1/99
  • Nominated an outstanding fellow for one-year APA/Wyett-Ayerst Psychiatric Research Fellowship by the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY, 11/1/98
  • First University Award for a project on Calcium channel blockers in the field of medical physiology/cardiology, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia, 10/1/87
  • Magna Cum Laude, Medallion of the Serbian Medical Doctors Association and University Award as the top student of Class 1987, University of Belgrade & University of Belgrade School of Medicine, 10/1/87
  • Completed internship within the University Hospital as the top student of the Class 1987, Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia, 10/1/87
  • Scholarships from grants dedicated to the top student in the 4th and 5th year of medical school, Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia, 10/1/86

Memberships

  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Member at-Large, MD Regional Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Locations

  1. Kennedy Krieger Institute
    • 716 North Broadway, Clinical Research Center, Room 246, Baltimore, MD 21205

    Expertise

    Education

    NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue

    Fellowship, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1999

    Harvard South Shore Residency Training Program

    Residency, Psychiatry, 1997

    University Clinical Center of Serbia

    Residency, Psychiatry, 1993

    University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine

    Medical Education, MD, 1987

    Board Certifications

    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2000