Scientists create genomic resource to explore the biological underpinnings of brain disorders Published in Science, this research integrates a broad range of genomics data to help find molecular underpinnings of schizophrenia, autism, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Hyejung Won, PhD, in the department of genetics and UNC Neuroscience Center was co-first author. CHAPEL HILL, NC – … Continued
The UNC School of Medicine lab of Ben Philpot, PhD, discovered key details for how a deficiency in the gene UBE3A affects the brain and how replacing it could benefit children with the neuro-genetic disorder Angelman syndrome, a genetic disease with no cure. Angelman syndrome is a genetic disease with no cure. Children grow up … Continued
Juan Song, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and member of the UNC Neuroscience Center, was one of four professors from UNC-Chapel Hill to be awarded the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement by Young Faculty. Dr. Song came to Carolina in fall 2013 and leads a research team trying to understand … Continued
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation announced the awarding of its Young Investigator Grants valued at more than $13.8 million to 200 of the world’s most promising young scientists. The grants, awarded annually, support the work of early-career scientists with innovative ideas for groundbreaking neurobiological research seeking to identify causes, improve treatments and develop prevention … Continued
The 19th Annual UNC Neuroscience Symposium will be held on Thursday, October 11th at the Carolina Club. The annual Andrew S Rachlin UNC Neuroscience Symposium will be held on October 11th, 2018 at the Carolina Club (150 Stadium Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514). This year’s Symposium will focus on genetic variation associated with neuropsychiatric … Continued
Angelman Syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that is caused by loss of the maternal copy of the Ube3a gene. Using the gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9, a team of scientists in the Zylka lab was able to correct the underlying molecular deficiency in the Angelman mouse model. The Zylka Lab was awarded a grant from the Angelman Syndrome Foundation to expand this finding towards a gene therapy.
Song lab’s article was selected as one of the 10 best articles of 2017 in Cell Stem Cell!
María Luisa, a graduate student in the the McElligott lab at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, received an NRSA from the NIAAA entitled “Examining Alcohol Induced Plasticity in Amygdala Hind Brain Circuits.” She will work to determine whether a history of alcohol consumption in mice can alter the behavioral and physiological properties of amygdalar circuits targeting the hindbrain.
Mark J. Zylka, PhD, Professor/Director, W.R. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, and American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, was one of the awardees of the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility (CEHS) Pilot Projects Program. His project, “Does prenatal pesticide exposure exacerbate phenotypes in a mouse model of autism?”, submitted for the 2018-2019 CEHS Standard Pilot Projects Program, was approved for funding on April 1, 2018.
Hiroyuki Kato, PhD, has been selected as a Pew Scholar in Biological Sciences, which provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health.
The Kato Lab will use this award to study the circuit mechanisms underlying the extraction of complex sounds in the auditory cortex. Findings in the simple mouse cortex should provide a first step towards an ultimate understanding of the neuronal circuits underlying vocal communications, and how they fail in diseased brains.