Autism Spectrum Disorder:
genes -> neural networks -> behavior
• PI: Sally Marik, Ph.D.
• Student:
– Unnikrishnan Nair
• Department of Biology, PLV
Goals:
• Determine the impact of key gene
mutations in Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) on neural circuits and behavior.
• Determine molecular pathways
responsible for some forms of ASD.
• Elucidate strategies to restore synaptic
health in ASD models.
Specific Research Aims:
• Determine the impact of blocking translation
of PTEN protein on synapse number and
developing neural circuits within the brain.
• Determine how PTEN impacts social cognition.
• Determine if restoring PTEN expression
rescues behaviors of established neural circuits
in ASD zebrafish models.
