New Research Suggests Cerebellum May Play Important Role in Autism
NIMH grant will fund studies on how autism risk gene impacts a crucial, but long-overlooked brain area
Researchers in the College of Biological Sciences have received a grant to study the role of the cerebellum in autism. “We need a more holistic understanding of the brain circuits that drive this disorder,” says Alex Nord, an associate professor of neurobiology, physiology and behavior (NPB), and a researcher at the Center for Neuroscience (CNS). “The cerebellum is a key component that has been largely overlooked until recently.”
Nord partnered with Diasynou Fioravante, also an associate professor of NPB and CNS researcher, and received an R21 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Announced in November, it will provide $435,000 of funding over the next two years.
With this grant, they will study how a potent autism risk gene, called chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8 (Chd8), alters function in the cerebellum, which plays a crucial role in physical movement, and how this drives autism-like behaviors. Their research ties together two emerging trends in autism research.
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