![Headshot portrait of Anca Pasca - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics](https://biox.stanford.edu/files/styles/profile_thumbnail/public/anca_pasca_profile.webp?orig=png)
The research focus of Dr. Pasca’s lab is to understand molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders associated with premature birth and neonatal brain injury with the long-term goal of translating the lab’s findings into therapeutics. The research team employs a multidisciplinary approach involving genetics, molecular and developmental neurobiology, animal models and neural cells differentiated from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. In particular, the lab is using a powerful 3D human brain-region specific organoid system developed at Stanford to ask questions about brain injury during development.