About the Lab
Neurodevelopmental disorders encompass a broad constellation of conditions including intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. One emerging theme in the field is that disrupted inhibitory neuronal development and function is found in association with many neurologic and psychiatric disorders. This would be consistent with the growing body of knowledge that inhibitory neurons are highly diverse and key for virtually all aspects of neurobiology from neural circuit development to modulating neuronal activity to information processing.
In the Chao Lab, we integrate cross-species approaches in humans to uncover the genetic etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders, fruit flies to elucidate the molecular pathways, and mice to explore the cascade of events in the mammalian brain. A wide variety of approaches and techniques are employed in our laboratory including genetically engineered mouse and fruit fly models, structural and functional analyses with electrophysiology, confocal and super-resolution imaging, transcriptomics, molecular and cellular assays, and comprehensive behavioral profiling.
Our goal is to determine the role of inhibitory dysfunction in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders by deciphering how genetic alterations perturb inhibition in the brain, impact neural development, and lead to abnormal neurologic output.
Maimuna Paul 2022 National Ataxia Foundation Fellowship
Congratulations to postdoctoral research scientist Dr. Maimuna Sali Paul for receiving the 2022 National Ataxia Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship! This is one of three awarded in 2022 to future leaders in ataxia research.
Nathan Bliss 2022 Match Results
Proud of our superb summer high school intern, Nathan Bliss, who matched to UT McGovern Medical School in March 2022. Nathan received a fellowship from the Autism Science Foundation for his internship and is paving the way for advances in medicine and science.
Celebrating Stellar Young Scientists 2022
Amazing team of young scientists working together for autism and rare diseases research, and advancing awareness for EBF3-related disorders. Celebrating a paper in press and more on the horizon. (left to right) Hallie Lazaro, Vanesa Lerma, Cole Deisseroth, Hsiao-Tuan Chao, Jessica Pfliger
EBF3 HADDS Foundation Gifts $25,000 for HADDS Research 2021
Grateful to the support of the EBF3 HADDS and 10q26-deletion communities and the EBF3 HADDS Foundation! Families and friends with Dr. Hsiao-Tuan Chao and lab members Christina Magyar, Maimuna Paul, Vanesa Lerma, and Cole Deisseroth.
February 2022 EBF3 HADDS Awareness Month
(Left to Right) Hallie Lazaro, Hsiao-Tuan Chao, Sabrina Amaya, Lihua Huang, Vanesa Lerma, Maimuna Paul, Jessica Pfliger
2021 Child Neurology Foundation Awardee
Congratulations to BCM MSTP student, Cole Deisseroth, for his award of the 2021 Child Neurology Foundation Scholarship for his research on EBF3-related neurodevelopmental disorders. First author on the study published in the Annals of Neurology.
Celebrating Halloween 2021
Proud of our diverse team of stellar women scientists and future leaders in their fields! Celebrating Halloween 2021. (Left to right) Christina Magyar, Elise Denghausen, Lihua Huang, Vanesa Lerma, Hallie Lazaro, Maimuna Sali Paul, Hsiao-Tuan Chao
Lab Birthday Celebration 2021
(Left to Right) Sahana Murthy, Lihua Huang, Maimuna Paul, Hallie Lazaro, Cole Deisseroth, Christina Magyar, Joshi Stephen, Vanesa Lerma, Hsiao-Tuan Chao, Officer Henderson
Research Collaboration 2019
Summer 2019, high school intern Aarushi Nayak (right) and Dr. Chao (left) discussing new research project. Aarushi's summer project launched a new research direction that led to a recently accepted manuscript at Annals of Neurology, 2022. Kudos to our stellar research intern!
Clinical Study
Natural history and molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including EBF3-related Hypotonia, Ataxia, and Delayed Development Syndrome (HADDS).
Contact Us
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute
1250 Moursund St
Houston, TX 77030
hsiaotuan.chao@bcm.edu
bridgema@bcm.edu
Phone: (832) 824-8806
