Home Department: Bioengineering
Mentor: Sergiu Pasca, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

The lack of access to intact, functioning human brain tissue is a critical challenge in understanding pathogenesis of brain disorders including 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a genetic disorder which can cause heart and immune system defects and cognitive impairment. By utilizing brain-region-specific 3D cultures assembled from 22q11DS patients, Julia will investigate defects in the migration of a key population of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Julia will develop advanced computational methods with the ultimate goal of developing screens and identifying therapeutics for 22q11DS patients and other interneuropathies.