I am researching how common genetic variants contribute to neurodevelopmental conditions (NDC), mental health, and other brain-related traits. Our knowledge of the biological pathways associated with autism, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, intellectual developmental delay and other NDC comes mostly from rare genetic variants that directly affect protein structure. However, more frequent/common and non-coding genetic variants also play an important role in brain development, structure, and function.
One leading hypothesis is that common variants influence these processes by modulating gene regulation. In this project, we aim to identify regulatory variants associated with brain-related traits, explore the genes and biological pathways they affect, and understand how these variants shape an individual’s brain profile and clinical outcomes.