Research Interests
Keywords: Psychiatric Genetics, Molecular Neuroscience, Protein Glycosylation
Dr. Mealer’s research interests involve the genes that increase risk of developing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. As hundreds of psychiatric risk genes have now been identified through large-scale human studies, Dr. Mealer attempts to understand how these genetic variations affect brain development and function. He has focused primarily on glycosylation, the process of adding carbohydrates to proteins and lipids to regulate their function, as several glycosylation genes are linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. Using cellular models, mouse models, and human samples, he hopes to develop new tools to diagnosis and treat individuals affected by severe mental illness.
