Three NRI researchers recognized for their contributions to neuroscience research

February 9, 2016

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Wangler, Yamamoto awarded SFARI grant for autism spectrum disorder study

Drs. Michael Wangler and Shinya Yamamoto recently obtained a research grant from the Simon’s Foundation for Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) to advance their study on autism spectrum disorders.

Their study titled, “In vivo functional analysis of autism candidate genes” is one of five projects selected for research funding by the SFARI.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are highly heritable but have a complex genetic architecture. Whole-genome sequencing has been used to identify many potential genetic mutations that may be responsible for ASD. However, interpreting the disease relevance of these enormous numbers of individual variants has been difficult because many of them are poorly characterized.

In their study, Wangler and Yamamoto will use a fruit fly model system to study a subset of 300 autism candidate genes to determine their role in disease causation and progression. They predict that using this powerful genetic system will provide much-needed information on the biological mechanisms underlying ASDs.

Besides being on the NRI faculty, Wangler and Yamamoto are assistant professors in the department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor.

Ballabio to receive the 2016 Louis-Jeantet Prize

Dr. Andrea Ballabio, founder and director of the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Italy, professor at Baylor and faculty member at the NRI, has been selected to receive the 2016 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine. He will share this award with biochemist John Diffley, associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom.

The Louis-Jeantet Prize for medicine is awarded each year by the Louis-Jeantet Foundation to experienced researchers who have distinguished themselves in the field of biomedical research in Europe. The prize is intended to encourage the continuation of innovative research projects of major importance to fundamental or clinical medicine.

Ballabio was recognized for his contributions in advancing the understanding of molecular mechanisms controlling the function of lysosomes in health and disease.

Lysosomes are organelles responsible for the degradation of cellular waste. A growing number of diseases are associated to lysosomal dysfunction such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, obesity and infections. Ballabio’s group identified a master gene that globally controls lysosomal function and promotes intracellular clearance of accumulating pathological materials. These observations revealed a new biological pathway and provided a tool to modulate lysosomal function to treat human diseases.

Ballabio will receive the award during a special ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday, April 20.