This grant will cover topics from genes to drugs in autism and schizophrenia. We will study genetic variations, some of which are causative, and set up drug screening methods, as well as try to understand the mechanism of how the mutation leads to brain dysfunction and abnormal development.
The first project focuses on understanding the molecular structure of patient mutations which lead to autism and schizophrenia, including how genetic mutations change proteins in an affected individual. Penzes and his collaborators will also deploy drug screens to evaluate compounds which may rescue proteins altered by these mutations.
The second project will explore methods to develop human-induced pluripotent cell-derived neurons and organoids, with the goal of using these 'mini-brains' to study the effects of autism and schizophrenia in the lab.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]