Professor Dr. Deborah Kurrasch

Biography

Deborah Kurrasch is a Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, holding positions in the Department of Medical Genetics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She is a Deputy Head and a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, with a focus on child health and wellness at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, specifically within the Owerko Centre. Her research includes developmental genetics, epilepsy, model organisms, novel therapeutics, neurogenetics, developmental neuroscience, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroinflammation, and neural stem cells. Deborah employs various model systems, including zebrafish, mice, and human brain organoids, utilizing advanced cellular and molecular techniques to uncover underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Her lab is particularly interested in neural stem cell behaviors and environmental impacts on development, with ongoing projects investigating the neurobiology of psychedelic agents and the commercialization of novel therapeutics for treating refractory pediatric epilepsy. She has received several awards for her contributions to research and education in neuroscience.

Research Interests

Awards