The Willsey lab aims to elucidate the pathobiology underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, tourette disorder, epileptic encephalopathies, and intellectual disability. To accomplish this, we focus on two main areas. First, gene discovery, as genes are the puzzle pieces we need to advance our understanding. Second, systems biological approaches that assemble these puzzle pieces, in a hypothesis-free manner, into testable hypotheses about the pathogenesis of these disorders.
Genetics and genomics of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders
The State lab focuses on gene discovery in childhood neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and then on leveraging these findings to elaborate underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
