Dr. Sofia Lizarraga and her lab were awarded a 3.5M,  5-year R01 multi-PI grant from the The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, NIH) that will support research on the role of counteracting epigenetic mechanisms in the development of neuronal circuits.  Their studies aim to define the role of the ASH1L/PRC2 axis in broader neuronal development and autism pathogenesis by regulating neuronal gene programs that govern neuronal structure and function. Dr. Lizarraga and her collaborators will conduct their studies using both human and mouse systems and a multidisciplinary approach that combines cellular, transcriptomic, epigenetic, and electrophysiological studies.

Dr. Sofia Lizarraga is the lead PI and collaborates with co-PI Dr. Judy Liu at Brown University (electrophysiology) and Co-investigators, Dr. Stefano Berto at MUSC (bioinformatics), Dr. Victor Corces at EMORY (Chromatin biology), and Dr. Yen-yi Ho at UofSC (Statistics). Congrats!