CAN Seminar Series: Epigenetic editing in models of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Elizabeth A Heller, PhD 
Associate Professor, Systems Pharmacology & Translational Therapeutics

Chair, Pharmacology Graduate Group
Core Member, Penn Epigenetics Institute
Perelman School of Medicine
The University of Pennsylvania

The Heller Lab studies the gene regulatory mechanisms that underlie neuronal function. To approach this problem, we interrogate preclinical mouse models of addiction, depression, and neurodevelopment disorders. Our current studies focus on Syngap1-related intellectual disability (SRID) and cocaine substance use disorder (SUD). Using novel epigenetic editing tools, we target chromatin at individual genes and examine the causal relevance of chromatin modifications to transcription and mouse behavior. This ‘bottom-up’ approach allows direct elucidation of the causal relevance of the neural epigenome to development and behavior.

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