To determine the molecular mechanisms that specify neuronal connectivity, our lab focuses on two interconnected areas of study:

  1. Investigating molecular pathways that specify cellular recognition in brain wiring during development

  2. Identification and genetic characterization of molecular mechanisms pertaining to brain connectivity defects in humans

To explore the broader roles for cell recognition molecules and their pivotal function in neural circuit development, our lab takes advantage of a battery of modern laboratory techniques. These approaches include animal and stem cell disease modeling, as well as next-generation sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.