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Research in the Kwan laboratory is aimed at the genetic mechanisms that underlie neural development and circuit assembly in the cerebral cortex, dysregulation, and human neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. The research focuses on unraveling the mechanistic underpinnings of fundamental pathogenic developmental processes in vivo. The overarching goals are to understand: 1) the mechanisms by which neural progenitor cells give rise to diverse cortical cell types; 2) how cortical neurons are wired within functional neural circuits; and 3) the dysregulation mechanisms that contribute to disorders of brain development. The research employs an integrative approach that interfaces molecular biology, functional genomics, genome editing, mouse genetics, and circuit neurobiology, aimed at functionally characterizing genes associated with brain disorders and uncovering how gene mutations contribute to diseases in vivo.
Admission for Biological Chemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Human Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Cancer Biology, and Neuroscience is primary handled through the PIBS (Program in Biomedical Sciences) gateway.