Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine

Multiple electrophysiology positions available for neuroscientists with experience in in vivo electrophysiology or patch clamp techniques. Our laboratories are looking for passionate scientists with experience with either in vivo electrophysiology or patch clamp electrophysiology (recording and data analysis). Successful applicants will lead innovative experiments in which electrophysiology is a key method, analyze the data, and contribute to writing research papers and grant applications. We are committed to mentoring and offer a creative, thoughtful and collaborative scientific environment. Richards lab (https://sites.wustl.edu/richardslab/): We are seeking a creative scientist with experience in in vivo electrophysiological brain recordings such as local field potentials, multielectrode arrays, and/or in vivo single unit recordings and the analysis of these data. This project will investigate the formation of patterned activity throughout development and into adulthood in a new animal model, the marsupial fat-tailed dunnart. Chen lab (https://sites.wustl.edu/yaochenlab/): The projects aim to understand how the spatial and temporal features of key plasticity signals impact cellular and synaptic electrophysiology, as well as learning and memory. These experiments will be combined with optogenetics and two photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. We welcome experts in either patch clamp or in vivo electrophysiology, and we can train you for the rest. We welcome individuals who value rigor and craftsmanship, and will value your creativity in shaping the projects. Franken lab (https://sites.wustl.edu/frankenlab/): The electrophysiologist will lead experiments that aim to understand how the brain parses visual scenes into organized collections of objects. They will use advanced behavior, high-density electrode probes (e.g. Neuropixels) and optogenetics to understand how ensembles of neurons in cortical circuits perform these computations. We seek a creative scientist with prior expertise in electrophysiology, and look forward to train you in the other techniques. Our labs are members of the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a large and collaborative scientific community. WashU Neuroscience is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 places worldwide for neuroscience research. Additional information on being a postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs/ St. Louis is a city rich in culture, green spaces, free museums, world-class restaurants, and thriving music and arts scene. On top of it all, St. Louis is affordable and commuting to Washington University’s campuses is stress-free, whether you go by foot, bike, public transit, or car. The area combines the attractions of a major city with affordable lifestyle opportunities (https://medicine.wustl.edu/about/st-louis/). Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply. Minimum education & experience The appointee will have earned a Master’s degree or Ph.D. by the time of starting the appointment. Applicants should submit their CV and a cover letter explaining their background and interest in the position to Dr. Linda Richards (linda.richards@wustl.edu), Dr. Yao Chen (yaochen@wustl.edu), or Dr. Tom Franken (ftom@wustl.edu).

Sofia Lizarraga, Assistant Professor

We are studying the role of histone modifiers in human neuronal development using stem cell based models. The research assistant will conduct experiments with various human-induced pluripotent stem cell lines using cellular and molecular approaches. In addition, this person will be responsible for ordering supplies, keeping the laboratory organized, helping manage hazardous waste, maintaining the chemical inventory, and routine equipment maintenance. This person will also be expected to contribute to the intellectual environment in the laboratory by participating in the laboratory group meetings and helping train undergraduates.

Silvia De Rubeis

The laboratory of Silvia De Rubeis, PhD, at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, is seeking an ambitious, creative, and motivated postdoctoral fellow with expertise in neuroscience to study the mechanisms underlying intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. De Rubeis’ laboratory aims at translating emerging genetic findings from large-scale genomic studies into functional analyses in cellular and mouse models with the goal of understanding the pathogenic underpinnings of ID and ASD. The laboratory focuses on DDX3X syndrome, a rare genetic disorder associated with ID and ASD, using cellular and animal models. Our team currently includes two postdoctoral fellows, a PhD student, three research associates, one undergraduate student, and three high-school students.

Prof Julijana Gjorgjieva

Generating neural systems that are both flexible and stable is a nontrivial challenge and requires a prolonged period of development when multiple mechanisms are coordinated in a hierarchy of levels and timescales to establish a rich repertoire of computations. Studying this process is of fundamental importance for the understanding of normal brain function and the prevention, detection and treatment of brain disorders and intellectual disabilities. There are many transient mechanisms that operate during the timescale of development shaping neural networks structures in a unique way to prepare the brain for adult computations. In this project the student will study the role of the subplate, a transient cortical structure that disappears shortly after birth, in providing a scaffold for self-organization of connectivity between the thalamus (a relay station) and the cortex. The project will be based on published experimental data from visual and barrel cortex in rodents, but we will also collaborate with experimental colleagues at the University of Mainz. The student will develop biologically realistic network models to understand how connectivity strength and spread between the thalamus, subplate and cortex can be changed during development. For this, we will use using biologically plausible Hebbian learning rules for tuning synaptic weights, including spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) that relies on spike interactions based on pairs and triplets of spikes. A second aspect of the project addressed by the ESR will focus on the role of inhibition. Even though inhibition is absent in the cortex during the relevant stage of development, it is present in the subplate, which matures earlier. Can subplate activity patterns drive functional feedforward connectivity into the cortex? How does it depend on the connectivity profiles, both feedforward and intra-subplate? This project will help us identify changing network structures during development that help establish mature network connectivity and computations. For more information see: https://www.smartnets-etn.eu/the-role-of-transient-network-structures-in-establishing-functional-connectivity-during-development/

Sahar Moghimi

We are seeking a PhD candidate at GRAMFC (Amiens, France) to evaluate the impact of music exposure during fetal life on the development of rhythm perception, tested at birth using electroencephalography.

Silvia De Rubeis

The laboratory of Silvia De Rubeis, PhD, at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, is seeking a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in RNA biology interested in applying their skillset to neuroscience and advance the field of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. De Rubeis’ laboratory aims at translating emerging genetic findings from large-scale genomic studies into functional analyses in cellular and mouse models with the goal of understanding the pathogenic underpinnings of ID and ASD. The laboratory focuses on DDX3X syndrome, a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, using cellular and animal models. Our team currently includes one instructor, two postdoctoral fellows, two PhD students, and one undergraduate student.

High Stakes in the Adolescent Brain: Glia Ignite Under THC’s Influence

Cellular Crosstalk in Brain Development, Evolution and Disease

Cellular crosstalk is an essential process during brain development and is influenced by numerous factors, including cell morphology, adhesion, the local extracellular matrix and secreted vesicles. Inspired by mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, we focus on understanding the role of extracellular mechanisms essential for the proper development of the human brain. Therefore, we combine 2D and 3D in vitro human models to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in progenitor proliferation and fate, migration and maturation of excitatory and inhibitory neurons during human brain development and tackle the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Gene regulatory mechanisms of neocortex development and evolution

The neocortex is considered to be the seat of higher cognitive functions in humans. During its evolution, most notably in humans, the neocortex has undergone considerable expansion, which is reflected by an increase in the number of neurons. Neocortical neurons are generated during development by neural stem and progenitor cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play a pivotal role in orchestrating the behaviour of stem cells during development. We are interested in the mechanisms that regulate gene expression in neural stem cells, which have implications for our understanding of neocortex development and evolution, neural stem cell regulation and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Virtual and experimental approaches to the pathogenicity of SynGAP1 missense mutations

Targeting gamma oscillations to improve cognition

Untitled Seminar

SYNGAP1 Natural History Study/ Multidisciplinary Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Beyond the synapse: SYNGAP1 in primary and motile cilia

The Roles of Distinct Functions of SynGAP1 in SYNGAP1-Related Disorders

Investigating dynamiCa++l mechanisms underlying cortical development and disease

Modeling human brain development and disease: the role of primary cilia

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) impose a global burden, affecting an increasing number of individuals. While some causative genes have been identified, understanding the human-specific mechanisms involved in these disorders remains limited. Traditional gene-driven approaches for modeling brain diseases have failed to capture the diverse and convergent mechanisms at play. Centrosomes and cilia act as intermediaries between environmental and intrinsic signals, regulating cellular behavior. Mutations or dosage variations disrupting their function have been linked to brain formation deficits, highlighting their importance, yet their precise contributions remain largely unknown. Hence, we aim to investigate whether the centrosome/cilia axis is crucial for brain development and serves as a hub for human-specific mechanisms disrupted in NDDs. Towards this direction, we first demonstrated species-specific and cell-type-specific differences in the cilia-genes expression during mouse and human corticogenesis. Then, to dissect their role, we provoked their ectopic overexpression or silencing in the developing mouse cortex or in human brain organoids. Our findings suggest that cilia genes manipulation alters both the numbers and the position of NPCs and neurons in the developing cortex. Interestingly, primary cilium morphology is disrupted, as we find changes in their length, orientation and number that lead to disruption of the apical belt and altered delamination profiles during development. Our results give insight into the role of primary cilia in human cortical development and address fundamental questions regarding the diversity and convergence of gene function in development and disease manifestation. It has the potential to uncover novel pharmacological targets, facilitate personalized medicine, and improve the lives of individuals affected by NDDs through targeted cilia-based therapies.

Contrasting developmental principles of human brain development and their relevance to neurodevelopmental disorders

Cortical interneurons from brain development to disease

Genomic investigation of sex-differential neurodevelopment and risk for autism

Cellular crosstalk in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Cellular crosstalk is an essential process during brain development and it is influenced by numerous factors, including the morphology of the cells, their adhesion molecules, the local extracellular matrix and the secreted vesicles. Inspired by mutations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, we focus on understanding the role of extracellular mechanisms essential for the correct development of the human brain. Hence, we combine the in vivo mouse model and the in vitro human-derived neurons, cerebral organoids, and dorso-ventral assembloids in order to better comprehend the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in ventral progenitors’ proliferation and fate as well as migration and maturation of inhibitory neurons during human brain development and tackle the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders. We particularly focus on mutations in genes influencing cell-cell contacts, extracellular matrix, and secretion of vesicles and therefore study intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms contributing to the formation of the brain. Our data reveal an important contribution of cell non-autonomous mechanisms in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Quantifying perturbed SynGAP1 function caused by coding mutations

Therapeutic Strategies for Autism: Targeting Three Levels of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology with a Focus on SYNGAP1

Involvement of the brain endothelium in neurodevelopmental disorders

Circuit mechanisms of attention dysfunction in Scn8a+/- mice: implications for epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders

Catatonia in Neurodevelopmental Conditions

The balanced brain: two-photon microscopy of inhibitory synapse formation

Coordination between excitatory and inhibitory synapses (providing positive and negative signals respectively) is required to ensure proper information processing in the brain. Many brain disorders, especially neurodevelopental disorders, are rooted in a specific disturbance of this coordination. In my research group we use a combination of two-photon microscopy and electrophisiology to examine how inhibitory synapses are fromed and how this formation is coordinated with nearby excitatroy synapses.

Precision Genomics in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A Data-Driven Approach to Reconstructing Disease Trajectories in SYNGAP1-Related Disorders

Expanding the role of MAST kinases in brain development and epilepsy: identification of de novo pathogenic variants in MAST4

Harnessing mRNA metabolism for the development of precision gene therapy

Integration of 3D human stem cell models derived from post-mortem tissue and statistical genomics to guide schizophrenia therapeutic development

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (such as avolition and withdrawal) and cognitive dysfunction1. Schizophrenia is highly heritable, and genetic studies are playing a pivotal role in identifying potential biomarkers and causal disease mechanisms with the hope of informing new treatments. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified nearly 270 loci with a high statistical association with schizophrenia risk; however each locus confers only a small increase in risk therefore it is difficult to translate these findings into understanding disease biology that can lead to treatments. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models are a tractable system to translate genetic findings and interrogate mechanisms of pathogenesis. Mounting research with patient-derived iPSCs has proposed several neurodevelopmental pathways altered in SCZ, such as neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation, imbalanced differentiation of excitatory and inhibitory cortical neurons. However, it is unclear what exactly these iPS models recapitulate, how potential perturbations of early brain development translates into illness in adults and how iPS models that represent fetal stages can be utilized to further drug development efforts to treat adult illness. I will present the largest transcriptome analysis of post-mortem caudate nucleus in schizophrenia where we discovered that decreased presynaptic DRD2 autoregulation is the causal dopamine risk factor for schizophrenia (Benjamin et al, Nature Neuroscience 2022 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01182-7). We developed stem cell models from a subset of the postmortem cohort to better understand the molecular underpinnings of human psychiatric disorders (Sawada et al, Stem Cell Research 2020). We established a method for the differentiation of iPS cells into ventral forebrain organoids and performed single cell RNAseq and cellular phenotyping. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate iPSC models of SZ from the same individuals with postmortem tissue. Our study establishes that striatal neurons in the patients with SCZ carry abnormalities that originated during early brain development. Differentiation of inhibitory neurons is accelerated whereas excitatory neuronal development is delayed, implicating an excitation and inhibition (E-I) imbalance during early brain development in SCZ. We found a significant overlap of genes upregulated in the inhibitory neurons in SCZ organoids with upregulated genes in postmortem caudate tissues from patients with SCZ compared with control individuals, including the donors of our iPS cell cohort. Altogether, we demonstrate that ventral forebrain organoids derived from postmortem tissue of individuals with schizophrenia recapitulate perturbed striatal gene expression dynamics of the donors’ brains (Sawada et al, biorxiv 2022 https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.26.493589).

Linking SYNGAP1 with Human-Specific Mechanisms of Neuronal Development

SYNGAP1 and Epilepsy SurgerySYNGAP1 and Epilepsy Surgery

Cell-type specific alterations underpinning convergent ASD phenotypes in PACS1 neurodevelopmental disorder

Developmental disorders of presynaptic vesicle cycling - Synaptotagmin-1 and beyond

Post-diagnostic research on rare genetic developmental disorders presents new opportunities (and a few challenges) for discovery neuroscience and translation. In this talk, Kate will describe and discuss neurodevelopmental phenotypes arising from rare, high penetrance genomic variants which directly influence pre-synaptic vesicle cycling (SVC disorders). She will focus on Synaptotagmin-1 Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorder (also known as Baker Gordon Syndrome), first described in 2015 and now diagnosed in more than 50 children and young people worldwide. She will then present work-in-progress by her group on the neurodevelopmental spectrum of SVC disorders more broadly, and discuss opportunities for collaborative neuroscience which can bridge the gaps between genetic cause and complex neurological, cognitive and mental health outcomes.

Baby steps to breakthroughs in precision health in neurodevelopmental disorders

Targeting alternative splicing of SYNGAP1 using antisense oligonucleotides

Functional and translational implications of A-to-I editing in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders

Investigating activity-dependent processes in cerebral cortex development and disease

The cerebral cortex contains an extraordinary diversity of excitatory projection neuron (PN) and inhibitory interneurons (IN), wired together to form complex circuits. Spatiotemporally coordinated execution of intrinsic molecular programs by PNs and INs and activity-dependent processes, contribute to cortical development and cortical microcircuits formation. Alterations of these delicate processes have often been associated to neurological/neurodevelopmental disorders. However, despite the groundbreaking discovery that spontaneous activity in the embryonic brain can shape regional identities of distinct cortical territories, it is still unclear whether this early activity contributes to define subtype-specific neuronal fate as well as circuit assembly. In this study, we combined in utero genetic perturbations via CRISPR/Cas9 system and pharmacological inhibition of selected ion channels with RNA-sequencing and live imaging technologies to identify the activity-regulated processes controlling the development of different cortical PN classes, their wiring and the acquisition of subtype specific features. Moreover, we generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) form patients affected by a severe, rare and untreatable form of developmental epileptic encephalopathy. By differentiating cortical organoids form patient-derived iPSCs we create human models of early electrical alterations for studying molecular, structural and functional consequences of the genetic mutations during cortical development. Our ultimate goal is to define the activity-conditioned processes that physiologically occur during the development of cortical circuits, to identify novel therapeutical paths to address the pathological consequences of neonatal epilepsies.

Don't forget the gametes: Neurodevelopmental pathogenesis starts in the sperm and egg

Proper development of the nervous system depends not only on the inherited DNA sequence, but also on proper regulation of gene expression, as controlled in part by epigenetic mechanisms present in the parental gametes. In this presentation an internationally recognized research advocate explains why researchers concerned about the origins of increasingly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should look beyond genetics in probing the origins of dysregulated transcription of brain-related genes. The culprit for a subset of cases, she contends, may lie in the exposure history of the parents, and thus their germ cells. To illustrate how environmentally informed, nongenetic dysfunction may occur, she focuses on the example of parents' histories of exposure to common agents of modern inhalational anesthesia, a highly toxic exposure that in mammalian models has been seen to induce heritable neurodevelopmental abnormality in offspring born of exposed germline.

CANCELLED

Sex Differences in Learning from Exploration

Sex-based modulation of cognitive processes could set the stage for individual differences in vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders. While value-based decision making processes in particular have been proposed to be influenced by sex differences, the overall correct performance in decision making tasks often show variable or minimal differences across sexes. Computational tools allow us to uncover latent variables that define different decision making approaches, even in animals with similar correct performance. Here, we quantify sex differences in mice in the latent variables underlying behavior in a classic value-based decision making task: a restless two-armed bandit. While male and female mice had similar accuracy, they achieved this performance via different patterns of exploration. Male mice tended to make more exploratory choices overall, largely because they appeared to get ‘stuck’ in exploration once they had started. Female mice tended to explore less but learned more quickly during exploration. Together, these results suggest that sex exerts stronger influences on decision making during periods of learning and exploration than during stable choices. Exploration during decision making is altered in people diagnosed with addictions, depression, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, pinpointing the neural mechanisms of exploration as a highly translational avenue for conferring sex-modulated vulnerability to neuropsychiatric diagnoses.

Exploring mechanisms of human brain expansion in cerebral organoids

The human brain sets us apart as a species, with its size being one of its most striking features. Brain size is largely determined during development as vast numbers of neurons and supportive glia are generated. In an effort to better understand the events that determine the human brain’s cellular makeup, and its size, we use a human model system in a dish, called cerebral organoids. These 3D tissues are generated from pluripotent stem cells through neural differentiation and a supportive 3D microenvironment to generate organoids with the same tissue architecture as the early human fetal brain. Such organoids are allowing us to tackle questions previously impossible with more traditional approaches. Indeed, our recent findings provide insight into regulation of brain size and neuron number across ape species, identifying key stages of early neural stem cell expansion that set up a larger starting cell number to enable the production of increased numbers of neurons. We are also investigating the role of extrinsic regulators in determining numbers and types of neurons produced in the human cerebral cortex. Overall, our findings are pointing to key, human-specific aspects of brain development and function, that have important implications for neurological disease.

How are nervous systems remodeled in complex metazoans?

Early in development the nervous system is constructed with far too many neurons that make an excessive number of synaptic connections.  Later, a wave of neuronal remodeling radically reshapes nervous system wiring and cell numbers through the selective elimination of excess synapses, axons and dendrites, and even whole neurons.  This remodeling is widespread across the nervous system, extensive in terms of how much individual brain regions can change (e.g. in some cases 50% of neurons integrated into a brain circuit are eliminated), and thought to be essential for optimizing nervous system function.  Perturbations of neuronal remodeling are thought to underlie devastating neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and epilepsy.  This seminar will discuss our efforts to use the relatively simple nervous system of Drosophila to understand the mechanistic basis by which cells, or parts of cells, are specified for removal and eliminated from the nervous system.

Neural Circuit Dysfunction along the Gut/Brain Axis in zebrafish models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2nd In-Vitro 2D & 3D Neuronal Networks Summit

The event is open to everyone interested in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery, Disease Modeling, and Bio/Neuroengineering! This meeting is a platform bringing scientists from all over the world together and fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.

2nd In-Vitro 2D & 3D Neuronal Networks Summit

The event is open to everyone interested in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery, Disease Modeling, and Bio/Neuroengineering! This meeting is a platform bringing scientists from all over the world together and fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.

Mechanisms of visual circuit development: aligning topographic maps of space

Brain dynamics and flexible behaviors

Executive control processes and flexible behaviors rely on the integrity of, and dynamic interactions between, large-scale functional brain networks. The right insular cortex is a critical component of a salience/midcingulo-insular network that is thought to mediate interactions between brain networks involved in externally oriented (central executive/lateral frontoparietal network) and internally oriented (default mode/medial frontoparietal network) processes. How these brain systems reconfigure with development is a critical question for cognitive neuroscience, with implications for neurodevelopmental pathologies affecting brain connectivity. I will describe studies examining how brain network dynamics support flexible behaviors in typical and atypical development, presenting evidence suggesting a unique role for the dorsal anterior insular from studies of meta-analytic connectivity modeling, dynamic functional connectivity, and structural connectivity. These findings from adults, typically developing children, and children with autism suggest that structural and functional maturation of insular pathways is a critical component of the process by which human brain networks mature to support complex, flexible cognitive processes throughout the lifespan.

One by one: brain organoid modelling of neurodevelopmental disorders at single cell resolution

The use of milk exosomes to increase the expression of SYNGAP1 expression in SYNGAP1 mice

Studying cortical development through the lens of autism spectrum disorders

An Introduction to Autism BrainNet

Diversification of cortical inhibitory circuits & Molecular programs orchestrating the wiring of inhibitory circuitries

GABAergic interneurons play crucial roles in the regulation of neural activity in the cerebral cortex. In this Dual Lecture, Prof Oscar Marín and Prof Beatriz Rico will discuss several aspects of the formation of inhibitory circuits in the mammalian cerebral cortex. Prof. Marín will provide an overview of the mechanisms regulating the generation of the remarkable diversity of GABAergic interneurons and their ultimate numbers. Prof. Rico will describe the molecular logic through which specific pyramidal cell-interneuron circuits are established in the cerebral cortex, and how alterations in some of these connectivity motifs might be liked to disease.   Our web pages for reference: https://devneuro.org.uk/marinlab/ & https://devneuro.org.uk/rico/default

Huntington Disease as a neurodevelopmental disorder with adult-onset manifestations

Translational Biomarkers in Preclinical Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Brain chart for the human lifespan

Over the past few decades, neuroimaging has become a ubiquitous tool in basic research and clinical studies of the human brain. However, no reference standards currently exist to quantify individual differences in neuroimaging metrics over time, in contrast to growth charts for anthropometric traits such as height and weight. Here, we built an interactive resource to benchmark brain morphology, www.brainchart.io, derived from any current or future sample of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. With the goal of basing these reference charts on the largest and most inclusive dataset available, we aggregated 123,984 MRI scans from 101,457 participants aged from 115 days post-conception through 100 postnatal years, across more than 100 primary research studies. Cerebrum tissue volumes and other global or regional MRI metrics were quantified by centile scores, relative to non-linear trajectories of brain structural changes, and rates of change, over the lifespan. Brain charts identified previously unreported neurodevelopmental milestones; showed high stability of individual centile scores over longitudinal assessments; and demonstrated robustness to technical and methodological differences between primary studies. Centile scores showed increased heritability compared to non-centiled MRI phenotypes, and provided a standardised measure of atypical brain structure that revealed patterns of neuroanatomical variation across neurological and psychiatric disorders. In sum, brain charts are an essential first step towards robust quantification of individual deviations from normative trajectories in multiple, commonly-used neuroimaging phenotypes. Our collaborative study proves the principle that brain charts are achievable on a global scale over the entire lifespan, and applicable to analysis of diverse developmental and clinical effects on human brain structure.

Synaptic alterations in the striatum drive ASD-related behaviors in mice

Central role of the habenulo-interpeduncular system in the neurodevelopmental basis of susceptibility and resilience to anxiety

FENS Forum 2024

Characterization of a novel mouse model for CHD2-related neurodevelopmental disorder

FENS Forum 2024

Characterizing human-derived neuronal network using high-density MEAs and proteomics: In-vitro model for neurodevelopmental disease

FENS Forum 2024

Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids during critical neurodevelopmental periods leads to lasting shifts in neuronal type distribution and overall brain architecture

FENS Forum 2024

Clinical features of SYT1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder correlate with functional defects in evoked neurotransmitter release

FENS Forum 2024

Combined bulk transcriptomics reveals a neurodevelopmental signature in the Alzheimer’s disease postmortem brain

FENS Forum 2024

Cracking the code: How early brain asymmetry foretells neurodevelopmental futures

FENS Forum 2024

Deciphering the neurodevelopmental role of the brain secretome in Autism Spectrum Disorder

FENS Forum 2024

Decreased synaptic GABAergic inhibition in the dentate gyrus of a mouse model of the neurodevelopmental disorder BBSOAS

FENS Forum 2024

Developmental trajectories of sleep EEG in neurodevelopmental disorders: Does sex matter?

FENS Forum 2024

Early movement restriction affects the acquisition of neurodevelopmental reflexes in rat pups

FENS Forum 2024

Extraembryonic source of serotonin involved in neurodevelopment

FENS Forum 2024

Functional characterization of DPYSL5 gene variants involved in neurodevelopmental disorders with brain malformations

FENS Forum 2024

Heterozygosity for neurodevelopmental disorder-associated TRIO variants leads to distinct deficits in neuronal development and function

FENS Forum 2024

Human iPSC-derived neurons to investigate subtype-specific alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders: Our progress on SSADH deficiency

FENS Forum 2024

Identification of novel mTORC1 targets during neurodevelopment in tuberous sclerosis complex

FENS Forum 2024

Impact of a cocktail of fungicides at the regulatory dose in Europe on the neurodevelopment of a mice model of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

FENS Forum 2024

Impaired expression of the placental angiogenic factor CD146 by prenatal alcohol exposure results in disorganized foetal brain vasculature and neurodevelopmental defects

FENS Forum 2024

Insights into CTBP1 dysfunction in HADDTS: Linking the metabolic and neurodevelopmental dysfunction

FENS Forum 2024

Integrating network activity with transcriptomic profiling in hiPSCs-derived neuronal networks to understand the molecular drivers of functional heterogeneity in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders

FENS Forum 2024

Investigating the pathogenic potential of KCNH5 variants in neurodevelopmental disorders

FENS Forum 2024

Investigating the pathogenic potential of CLSTN1 variants in neurodevelopmental disorders

FENS Forum 2024

A maternal diet enriched with African walnuts confers neurodevelopmental resilience to MnCl2-induced neurotoxic cascades in rats

FENS Forum 2024

Mom matters: Expound the influence of the maternal serotonin transporter genotype on offspring’s neurodevelopment

FENS Forum 2024

Missense mutation in the activation segment of the kinase CK2 models Okur-Chung neurodevelopmental disorder and alters the hippocampal glutamatergic synapse

FENS Forum 2024

Modelling neurodevelopmental disorder risk in inborn errors of immunity

FENS Forum 2024

The modulatory effects of probiotic administration during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes under prenatal stress conditions

FENS Forum 2024

A mouse model to explore clonal evolution in fast-proliferating neuronal progenitor cells during early neurodevelopment

FENS Forum 2024

Navigating the challenges of investigating the influence of gestational gut microbiome disruption and perinatal asphyxia on neurodevelopmental reflexes in rat offspring

FENS Forum 2024

Neurodevelopmental roles of the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor in a corticogenesis model from mouse embryonic stem cells

FENS Forum 2024

Novel pathways translating astrocyte-derived signalling into cell fate specification of neural progenitor cells: Relevance in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration

FENS Forum 2024

Pathophysiological significance of the p.E31G variant in RAC1 responsible for a neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly

FENS Forum 2024

New players in neurodevelopment: Role of meningeal macrophages in developmental neurogenesis

FENS Forum 2024

Post-transcriptional regulation of neurodevelopment mediated by extracellular vesicles

FENS Forum 2024

Protein-metabolite interactomics in neurodevelopment

FENS Forum 2024

PTCHD1 modulates cytoskeleton remodeling through regulation of Rac1-PAK signaling pathway, consistent with neurodevelopmental disorders phenotype

FENS Forum 2024

Rabphilin 3A: From NMDA receptor synaptic retention to neurodevelopmental disorders

FENS Forum 2024

Role of RNA binding proteins in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases

FENS Forum 2024

Role of astrocytes in visual synaptic transmission and plasticity: Implications in neurodevelopmental disorders

FENS Forum 2024

Role of the gestational maternal gut-microbiota in the neurodevelopment of the hypothalamus and the amygdala

FENS Forum 2024