Mental Retardation by Anis Contractor

2009
Anis Contractor, Ph.D.

In Vivo Analysis of the Role of FMRP in Dendrite Maturation and Plasticity in the
Somatosensory Cortex
2009 Seed Grant
Anis Contractor, Ph.D.
Northwestern University

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of human mental retardation and the single
largest known cause of autism. One prominent manifestation of the disease is an alteration in
sensory processing that results in tactile hypersensitivity in fragile X patients. This study will
seek to define the impairments in dendritic maturation and plasticity in the sensory cortex of a
fragile X mouse model. The results will allow us to determine the role that fragile X mental
retardation protein plays in the development and plasticity of neurons which underlie sensory
processing.

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Other Grants

Brain Research Foundation
José Manuel Baizabal Carballo, Ph.D., Indiana University Bloomington
Heterochromatin Mechanisms of Cortical Expansion
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),…
Brain Research Foundation
Jessica L. Bolton, Ph.D., Georgia State University
Chemogenetic Tools in Microglia as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Brain Disorders
All humans are born with a unique combination of genes, which contribute greatly to who we are. However, early-life experiences such as trauma or hardship, particularly during the first few…
Brain Research Foundation
Junyue Cao, Ph.D., The Rockefeller University
Elucidate the Molecular and Cellular Targets of Caloric Restriction in Rejuvenating Aged Mammalian Brain
As we age, the brain’s ability to function declines, increasing the risk of cognitive impairments and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Our research investigates how caloric restriction (CR), a…
Brain Research Foundation
Vasileios Christopoulos, Ph.D., University of Southern California
Understanding the Mechanisms of Micturition in the Brain and Spinal Cord
This research aims to better understand how the brain and spinal cord work together to control urination, a process known as micturition. In healthy individuals, this process is carefully coordinated…