Rett Syndrome by Gianmaria Maccaferri

Cell type-specific alterations in a genetic animal model of Rett syndrome
2011 Seed Grant
Gianmaria Maccaferri, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
Northwestern University

This proposal plans to test the hypothesis that a specific type of neuron, highly important for the early development of the cortex, is affected either in its functions or structure by mutations of a gene whose abnormal activity is implicated in Rett syndrome. This type of knowledge is important for the identification of early, cell type-specific pathological mechanisms that may lead to circuit dysfunctions. In addition, these insights may be also important for the future development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Other Grants

Rebekah C. Evans, Ph.D., Georgetown University
In Vivo and Ex Vivo Dissection of Midbrain Neuron Activity During Exercise
Exercise is important for the health of the body and the mind. Exercise promotes learning and reduces symptoms of brain-related diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. However, it…
William J. Giardino, Ph.D. Stanford University
Deciphering the Neuropeptide Circuitry of Emotional Arousal in Narcolepsy
This research project aims to investigate the neural mechanisms of a specific type of brain cell called neuropeptide neurons within a region of the brain’s amygdala network called the bed…
Howard Gritton, Ph.D., University of Illinois
Attention Mechanisms Contributing to Auditory Spatial Processing.
Our world is composed of a rich mixture of sounds. We often process sounds including speech in the presence of many other competing auditory stimuli (e.g., voices in a crowded…
Nora Kory, Ph.D., Harvard University
Elucidating the Fates and Functions of Lactate in the Brain
The human brain requires significant energy to function. Despite accounting for only 2% of our body weight, the brain consumes a substantial 20% of the body’s energy, relying on a…