The next psychology colloquium is scheduled for Today February 24th at 3:30pm via Zoom. Dr. Jill Silverman from the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department of University of California, Davis will be presenting her work titled “Translation in Fast Forward: Patient Driven Research in Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders.” We hope that you will join us!
Dr. Silverman agreed to be available for meetings after her talk (from 17-17:30pm). If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Silverman, please join the meeting using the same Zoom link!
Abstract: The overarching goal of my current research is to apply my two decades of experience with rodent model systems to design and implement effective translational science for neurodevelopmental disorders. In order to make substantial gains in precision therapeutic development and/or uncover preventative strategies, my laboratory uses rodent preclinical model systems with overarching themes: 1) we focus on rare genetic disorders and use novel model systems in mice and rats, 2) we incorporate global neurophysiology, electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance, and 3) we design innovative, translational, quantitative outcome measures. I became a recognizable expert in disrupted UBE3A/Ube3a deletion and overexpression communities and developed two collaborative projects with The UC Davis Genome Center and the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures. These collaborations were awarded substantial grants to develop therapies for Angelman Syndrome, the opposing genetic condition, in which UBE3A expression is absent, as opposed to overexpressed as in Dup15q Syndrome. My lab is performing the essential preclinical proof of concept studies to move forward with a clinical trial or innovative drug discovery (IND) applications. Now, we have multiple FAST grants, including a multi-million dollar infrastructure award which funds projects to test traditional pharmaceutics, stem cell mediated gene therapy, viral delivered gene therapy, optimizing novel antisense oligonucleotides and an infrastructure grant on training the next generation of Angelman Syndrome scientists. The past few years we expanded this intensely focused study to other subgroups of genetic populations with features of ID, ASD and pediatric epilepsy. This talk provides an overview of what steps are limiting translational success stories and our role in making bench to bedside science a stronger reality.
Event information for attendees:
https://zoom.us/j/96147524252?pwd=ZFJrd09pOFIva1BZQno5ZUpUT01wdz09
Meeting ID: 961 4752 4252
Passcode: 20210224
Biography of Dr. Jill Silverman:
The overarching goal of my research is to apply my two decades of training and experience with rodent model systems to design and implement effective translation strategies for discovering gene therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically Angelman Syndrome. and intellectual disability. My predoctoral research was from at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and did my postdoctoral research at NIMH.
In 2012, I was recruited to the faculty of the University of California Davis and MIND Institute. I developed a research program on rare genetic developmental disorders characterized intellectual disabilities and pediatric epilepsies. My laboratory chose to pause our focus on the broader Autisms/epilepsies and to center on rare genetic syndromes that would be candidates for gene and cell-based “curative” therapies, with Angelman Syndrome paving the path forward. I am the sole, basic scientist and founding member of the Alliance for Genetic Etiologies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (AGENDA). I am an internationally a recognized expert in preclinical models and have been elected to the Council and named a Fellow of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS), a professional society formed to encourage research and education in the field of the brain and behavior. I am an Associate Editor for Molecular Autism. My publications have been cited ~4492 over my career and ~3282 times in five years for an h index is 27.
The remaining colloquium scheduled is listed below. All talks will take place online at 3:30pm on Wednesdays unless otherwise noted.
March 10th, 2021
Departmental Cross Divisional Graduate Colloquium
Presentations by Rose Presby (BNS); Sinead Sinnott (CLIN); Meaghan Perdue (DEV); Rick Laguerre (I/O); Ben De Bari (PAC); Ladectric Driver (SOC)
March 24th, 2021
Dr. Victor Ferreira
Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego
March 31st 2021
Dr. Sandra Waxman
Department of Psychology, Northwestern University
April 21st, 2021
Dr. Sapna Cheryan
Department of Psychology, University of Washington
April 28th 2021
Dr. Brandy Simula
Georgia Institute of Technology
Invited by Science of Learning & Art of Communication (SLAC)
For more information, contact: Merrisa Lin at merrisa.lin@uconn.edu