Today, many researchers are using brain organoids – miniaturized and simplified versions of organs produced in a dish typically from stem cells – as analogs for studying the development of the human brain.
Xinyu Zhao
Lab-grown retinal eye cells make successful connections, open door for clinical trials to treat blindness
Retinal cells grown from stem cells can reach out and connect with neighbors, according to a new study, completing a “handshake” that may show the cells are ready for trials in humans with degenerative eye disorders.
One mutation, many challenges: Unraveling the mystery behind fragile X syndrome
One mutation in a single gene, as straightforward as it may sound, can cause a broad range of symptoms and severity among those who carry it. This is the case for fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common hereditary form of intellectual disability.
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.
New Department of Defense grant to study fragile x syndrome in human cells
Xinyu Zhao, PhD, and Anita Bhattacharyya, PhD, will partner on research over the next four years to better understand the molecular underpinnings behind the diversity of FXS symptoms and how that diversity may inform the search for effective therapies.
Lawrence Students get firsthand look at research at Waisman through summer internship program
Since 2016, the Waisman Center has partnered with Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin to provide summer research internships for undergraduate Lawrence students in the labs of Waisman researchers.
Undergraduate student at the Waisman Center receives training support from the new Morris H. Aprison Scholar Fund for Undergraduate Research
Sabrina Huang, a rising senior in the Waisman lab of Xinyu Zhao, PhD, was awarded inaugural support from the endowed Morris H. Aprison Scholar Fund for Undergraduate Research.
Xinyu Zhao, PhD – Slide of the Week
Neurodevelopmental impairment contributes to the hallmark cognitive disability in individuals with Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21, T21).
Cancer drug may be treatment option for fragile X syndrome
A newer cancer drug may also be a treatment option for a leading intellectual and developmental disability. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability.
Xinyu Zhao, PhD – Slide of the Week
Voluntary running enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis, with consequences for hippocampal-dependent learning ability and mood regulation. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that voluntary running induces unique and dynamic gene expression changes specifically within the adult-born hippocampal neurons, with significant impact on genes involved in neuronal maturation and human diseases. We identify the regulator of G protein signaling 6 (RGS6) as a key factor that mediates running impact on adult-born neurons.