In the fourth episode of our Neuroscience Research series, hosts Filippo Dall'Armellina and Dr. Michael Cearns are joined by Prof. Michele Jacob, Professor of Neuroscience at Tufts University. Prof. Jacob’s research focuses on autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work spans basic biology, including the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, as well as electrophysiological studies and preclinical mouse models. Together, we discuss groundbreaking evidence for therapeutic interventions targeting conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and the rare CTNNB1 syndrome.

Research Highlights from the Episode:

- Paper 1: Alexander JM, et al. Excessive β-Catenin in Excitatory Neurons Results in Reduced Social and Increased Repetitive Behaviors and Altered Expression of Multiple Genes Linked to Human Autism. Front Synaptic Neurosci. 2020 Mar 31; PMID: 32296324.

- Paper 2: Alexander JM, et al. Inhibition of GSK3α,β Rescues Cognitive Phenotypes in a Preclinical Mouse Model of CTNNB1 Syndrome. EMBO Mol Med. 2024 Sep; PMID: 39103699.

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