member

Research Description 

We are interested in understanding how the extensive morphological, molecular and functional diversity of neural cell types is achieved during development of the central nervous system. We focus our studies on the forebrain, with particular attention to the cortex and the septal nuclei of the basal forebrain. Our long-term goal is to understand how genetic and epigenetic programs associated with a progenitor cells spatial and temporal identity dictates their fate choice.

Research Description

Behavior is energized by motivations and shaped by either positive (rewarding) or negative 

Research Description

Research in the lab focuses on mapping and functionally interrogating molecular and cellular networks in the developing and adult brain. We are taking a multi-disciplinary approach, including molecular genetics, functional genomics, single cell genomics, cell biology, to gain a mechanistic understanding of cell fate specification, intercellular interactions, and higher order phenotypes in the human brain and its models.

Current Projects

Functional genomics to understand molecular mechanisms of brain function and disease

Research Description

Research Description

 The Corces Lab studies the gene-regulatory underpinnings of neurodegenerative disease. We utilize broad epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling of primary human disease tissue to generate hypotheses about the cell types and molecular mechanisms driving neurodegeneration. We then test these hypotheses using in vitro and murine model systems through large-scale screens (CRISPR / MPRA) and targeted molecular perturbation.

Current Projects

Research in the Namboodiri lab will focus on the biological algorithms and neuronal network mechanisms underlying associative learning, memory and decision-making. We will conduct this research in mice as an animal model. In addition to investigating these processes at a basic level, we are especially interested in understanding how these mechanisms go awry in diseases such as addiction. Lastly, we are also interested in developing theoretical and computational models of associative learning and decision-making.

About four billion years ago, while earth was covered with a primordial soup enriched with the building blocks of life, the equal occurrence of chiral molecules (non-superimposable “left-handed” vs “right-handed” molecules) fell out of balance. As a consequence, today’s life is asymmetric.

Current Projects

1. Functional genomics (the ENCODE project): high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 screening of functional regulatory elements. We are using high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic screening to interrogate the biological significance of a large number of non-coding regulatory sequences in the mammalian genome in both embryonic stem cells and iPSC-derived neural cell types.