2023 Seed Grant
Benjamin Scholl, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Synapses are an elementary until of brain circuits. Synapses allow neurons to communicate to one another and for information to be processed by circuits. In many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and Fragile X Syndrome, synapses are altered. However, it is unclear how synapse dysfunction affects the computations performed by individual neurons and synaptic communication. To date, the cell cell-autonomous effects of gene deletions related to neurodevelopmental disorders are unknown. To address this, Dr. Scholl’s laboratory will use single-cell gene editing to examine cellular and synaptic function and transformation of sensory information. BRF seed funding will help establish a link between neurodevelopmental disorders, altered synapses, and the computations performed by individual neurons.
