I am interested in exploring convergent cellular phenotypes in autism-derived iPSCs and the contribution of heterogeneous genetic factors to the autistic phenotype. We are working on optimizing 3D cell culture models and applying high-throughput methods to investigate electrophysiological and morphological properties to better understand the etiology of autism, with the long term-goal of discovery of viable drug targets.

Genestine M, Lin L, Durens M, Yan Y, Jiang Y, Prem S, Bailoor K, Kelly B, Sonsalla PK, Matteson PG, Silverman J, Crawley JN, Millonig JH, DiCicco-Bloom E. (2015). Engrailed-2 (En2) deletion produces multiple neurodevelopmental defects in monoamine systems, forebrain structures and neurogenesis and behavior. Hum Mol Genet. 15;24(20):5805-27. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddv301. Epub 2015 Jul 28.