Topic: early development

Lead the Autism and Early Development programme at the K. Lisa Yang Centre. The role studies prenatal and perinatal influences on neurodevelopment and early autism identification, builds international collaborations, supervises researchers and develops funding proposals. Research combines developmental neuroscience with translational and population approaches.

The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR) provides a dynamic environment for PhD training in placental biology and reproductive science. Founded in 2007, it brings together over 30 Principal Investigators with a shared interest in the scientific study of the placenta, early development and maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy. Our PIs are recognized international experts in their fields based across Cambridge in the Departments of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Genetics, and allied institutes, including the Institute of Metabolic

Exposure to proper environment during early development is essential for brain maturation. Impaired sensory input or abnormal experiences can have long-term negative consequences on brain health. We seek to define the precise synaptic aberrations caused by abnormal visual experiences early in life, and how these can be remedied through viral, genetic and environmental approaches. Resulting knowledge will contribute to the development of new approaches to mitigate nervous system damage caused by abnormal early life experience.