Research Breakthroughs
Tau aggregates activate “jumping genes” in Alzheimer’s disease
6/8/18A recent study published in Cell Reports has found a novel mechanism by which Tau protein aggregates might contribute to neurodegeneration.
Fruit fly study links TBX2 to a novel Mendelian disorder
5/23/18An interdisciplinary team has found a link between TBX2, a member of the T-box family of transcription factors, to a novel disorder that mainly affects the cardiac, skeletal, immune and endocrine systems.
Fruit fly study identifies a new link to aortic aneurysms
4/25/18Ari-1 is linked to human aortic anueurysms.
“CRIMIC”: A versatile genetic tool to accelerate biomedical discovery
3/30/18The Bellen lab has generated large library of versatile CRIMIC fly stocks.
Sardiello lab develops a new tool to speed up biomedical discovery
3/12/18Dr. Marco Sardiello's lab develops a new web tool called Aminode.
Research reveals mechanism that drives ataxia type 1
3/9/18Disrupting Ataxin1-capicua complex alleviates SCA1 symptoms
Changes in Pumilio1 levels linked to distinct neurological disorders
2/22/18Changes in PUM1 levels cause two distinct neurological syndromes
NRI researchers identify the gene largely accounting for a complex neurological condition
2/2/18NRI researchers identify OTUD7A as the gene responsible for 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome, a complex neurological condition.
A new strategy to fight Huntington's disease
1/15/18Researchers in the laboratory of Dr. Juan Botas, investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute and professor at Baylor College of Medicine, are among the team of NIH scientists and collaborators who have uncovered a potential new strategy to treat Huntington's disease.
Mitochondrial metabolite linked to regulation of neurotransmission
1/2/18A study from the Dr. Hugo's Bellen lab shows how alpha-ketoglutarate, produced by mitochondria, the energy generators of the cell, plays an unexpected role in the regulation of neurotransmission linking mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal disorders.
NRI researchers identify a promising drug target for childhood brain tumors
12/7/17In this study, Dr. Tiemo's team have found a novel way to reduce a particular type of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumors in children. This promising discovery could act as adjunct therapy to increase remission rates and cancer-free survival among the patients of sonic hegdehig-type medulloblastoma patients.
How having too much or too little of CHRNA7 can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders
12/5/17A recent paper from Dr. Christian Schaaf's lab finds how too much or too little CHRNA7 can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Defects in the neuronal ‘waste disposal system’ linked to Parkinson’s disease
11/17/17Dr. Joshua Shulman's team finds that a group of genes involved in childhood lysosomal storage disorders are also affected in Parkinsons' patients.
Studies on a young ataxia patient could guide treatment for a novel condition
10/5/17Physicians determine a unique treatment plan for an ataxia patient carrying a novel, toxic, "gain-of function" mutation in a calcium channel gene. This exciting discovery could potentially become a standard paradigm for treating such patients in the future.
Breakdown of brain cells’ metabolic collaboration linked to Alzheimer’s disease
9/28/17Researchers have discovered that impairing a critical partnership between brain cells can lead to neurodegeneration.
Novel regulatory DNA loops found in gliomas: a promising target for future therapies
9/19/17Dr. Benjamin Deneen and colleagues have identified novel regulatory DNA loop structures that could be promising targets for gliomas.
New study reveals potential drug targets for MECP2 duplication and Rett syndromes
9/5/17An exciting study published in Science Translational Medicine from the laboratory of Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Institute (NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital, and professor at Baylor College of Medicine, describes the discovery of new ‘druggable’ modulators of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a key neuronal protein.
CRISPRCloud: A new web tool developed by NRI researchers to mine and analyze CRISPR data
9/4/17NRI scientists have developed a new bioinformatics tool to easily analyze and collate CRISPR sequencing data.
Lunatic Fringe plays a key role in renewing neurons
8/7/17Researchers have developed a novel Lunatic fringe (Lfng) reporter and lineage tracing mouse model that selectively labels primary NSCs. Using these mice, researchers have found a novel mechanism by which descendants of NSCs are able to send feedback signals to alter the division and the fate of the mother cell.
A potential therapeutic target for juvenile Batten disease
8/3/17Researchers in the laboratory of Dr. Marco Sardiello have identified a pharmacologically actionable target for juvenile Batten disease, a rare but fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder. The study was published in Nature Communications. Juvenile Batten disease is the most common form of neurodegeneration in young children.