Neurogenetics Group

The vision of the Neurogenetics (NEURO) Team is to improve the health of children and their families living with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs).

Team NEURO studies genetic and epigenetic origins of intellectual disabilities, autisms, epilepsies and cerebral palsies, which affect up to one in seven children world-wide.

The identification of the genetic aetiology of these NDDs is the first step in the journey to understand the underlying, complex neurobiology of brain development and function. Team NEURO has precision genomics and functional genomics capabilities to investigate a broad range of genetic causes as well as underlying molecular mechanisms of a diverse set of genetic alterations using patient-derived cells, stem cells, animal models or computational biology tools.

Team NEURO has achieved major goals in the field of genetics of NDDs. We identified the first gene for non-syndromic intellectual disability, many epilepsy genes, we pioneered systematic chromosome and later genome-wide sequencing and have rewritten the understanding of the causes of cerebral palsies as partly genetic. We have discovered, or contributed to the discovery of more than 250 disease genes and uncovered novel biological pathways essential for normal brain function.

Team NEURO investigates coding, non-coding and regulatory DNA variation as well as epigenetics factors (epi phenotypes) involved. Our genetic and mechanistic discoveries are subsequently scrutinised in cell and animal models for the opportunities for intervention.

Our key research strengths are:

  • genomics and bioinformatics
  • molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • cellular and molecular neuroscience
  • animal models.

Our research is complemented and significantly enhanced by many national and international, clinical and basic research collaborators.

Interested in a postgraduate research degree?

We offer exciting opportunities for researchers at the honours, masters and PhD levels. Our research degrees are open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, and range from basic sciences to clinical research. If you are interested in human health, consider furthering your research career with us.

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