Département de neurosciences CONFÉRENCE SCIENTIFIQUE DU VENDREDI MIDI

Zhou Yang, PhD

Montreal Neurological Institute
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Epilepsy, are prevalent, heterogeneous conditions that are often associated with gene mutations. Mutation or disruption of gene(s) encoding protein(s) implicated in communication between neurons represents highly penetrant, monogenic risk factors for NDDs. Recent advances in gene editing enabled the creation of genetically engineered mouse and non-human primate (NHP) models of NDDs. Such models allow for gaining a better neurobiological understanding of NDDs and testing pre-clinical therapeutic strategies. I will provide a personal perspective on correcting mutated gene(s) in the nervous system and alleviating neural and behavioral deficits resulting from NDDs. I will present collaborative efforts during my postdoctoral training on generating and characterizing SHANK3 mutant mice and monkey models of NDDs. I will introduce an ongoing project using mouse genetics to reveal the role of NDD-associated genes in the brain. I will briefly introduce ongoing technology development in the lab and a proof-of-concept test of gene therapy in animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders.

This content has been updated on 22 November 2022 at 21 h 49 min.