The lab of Waisman Center director, Qiang Chang, PhD, professor of medical genetics and neurology, has received $1 million in funding from the Department of Defense to study the dysfunction of astrocytes, a key brain cell that supports neurons, in Rett syndrome.
Qiang Chang
Impact Report 2024 Introduction
Dear Waisman Community: For more than 50 years the Waisman Center has been at the intersection of discovery and hope – forging new paths in research and clinical care. One of our strengths is the …
Sigan Hartley, research team receive $9 million National Institutes of Health grant to study Down syndrome
Sigan Hartley, 100 Women Distinguished Chair in Human Ecology and Human Development & Family Studies professor, and a team of researchers have received a $9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Waisman BioLibrary: Building a database to boost genetic research on intellectual and developmental disabilities now and for the future
The end goal is to build a collection of information for multiple disorders, the first one being Down syndrome.
Reaching beyond Rett Syndrome: How a family and the Waisman Center are working to improve care for those with rare syndrome
Several months after Ella’s first birthday, she received her diagnosis of Rett syndrome. “It was devastating, life changing. It’s rare – we hadn’t heard of it before we started this journey and it’s a very difficult diagnosis to process,” Jennifer says.
Genomics and genetics cluster hire brings expansion into new research avenues
Tiny but mighty is a good way of describing our genome – the collection of our DNA. Although not visible to the naked eye, the human genome holds around 21,000 genes and millions of DNA variants, containing the information needed to maintain an organism throughout its life.
Leading by Example: A Spotlight on Each of Waisman’s Directors
The Waisman Center has a long history of excellent and remarkable leadership. Each director of the center has played a pivotal role in advancing Waisman’s research, service, training, and outreach efforts. This article highlights the Waisman Center’s directors, both past and present, that have allowed the center to proudly follow its mission of advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Waisman BioLibrary: Down Syndrome Study (Chang)
Be included! Families of children with Down syndrome are invited to participate in our new study about genetics and health. The Waisman BioLibrary is recruiting youth with Down syndrome ages 0 – 17 years. Families …
Four Waisman investigators receive prestigious Simons Foundation award to study autism
Four Waisman Center investigators will dig deeper into the function of genes implicated in autism and brain development with support from the prestigious Simons Foundation 2022 Pilot Award.
Qiang Chang, PhD – Slide of the Week
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe X chromosome-linked debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene affects 1 in 10,000-15,000 girls with no effective treatment. Our lab has been using RTT induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and neurons and astrocytes differentiated from iPSC as a platform to understand RTT disease mechanisms and develop treatment.