2025 Seed Grant
José Manuel Baizabal Carballo, Ph.D.
Indiana University Bloomington
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, are frequently associated with mutations in genes that encode chromatin-modifying enzymes. A subset of these mutations is thought to disrupt compacted chromatin (heterochromatin), leading to partial loss of gene silencing in the developing brain. However, the mechanisms by which the loss of chromatin compaction results in aberrant gene expression and neurodevelopmental abnormalities remain largely unknown. Here, Dr. Baizabal’s lab proposes a combination of cutting-edge genetics and genomics approaches to understand how heterochromatin controls neural stem cell proliferation and cell cycle dynamics, leading to the expansion of the developing cerebral cortex. Ultimately, these foundational insights will deepen our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders in which impaired chromatin modifications may play a central role.
