Developing targeted treatment in neurodevelopmental disorders: what can we learn from Fragile X syndrome.
My expertise extends from the basic (animal model, neurogenetics) and clinical aspects of neurodevelopmental disability (NDD). My lab focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive, behavioral, and social defects in patients with NDD. Our laboratory has developed several paradigms in Drosophila to model and quantitatively study the various defects seen in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. This work has led to candidate molecules for which we are currently leading clinical trials. More recently, our lab has also integrated a genomic medicine approach which includes multi-omics (whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and proteomics in both animal model and human in order to leverage neurodiversity found in NDD. We are using artificial intelligence (AI) to better understand the complex interactions modulating behavioral outcomes in animal models and human. In addition, we are using AI to develop a chatbot to better provide information to parents, health professionals, and educators involved with individuals with NDD.
