Home Department: Biology
Mentor: Theo Palmer, Neurosurgery

Genetics and fetal environment are known to have roles in causing some neurodevelopmental disorders, and two specific risk factors are strongly implicated: the CHD8 gene and maternal immune activation during pregnancy. John will use a mouse model to study how these components interact and ultimately affect the offspring’s behavior and brain development. This research will shed more light on how different elements combine to contribute to the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders.