Email this page   Print-friendly version   Contact NINDS   Adobe Reader   Microsoft Word Viewer

Genetic methodologies are having a rapidly increasingly impact on studies of the normal and diseased nervous system. To date, more than 200 genes have been identified that cause or contribute to neurological disorders. It is essential that neuroscientists exploit the power of modern molecular genetics and use the information becoming available from sequencing of the human genome.

The Neurogenetics cluster supports research of genes that cause neurological disorders; molecular mechanisms through which disease genes act; animal models and in vitro techniques for studying pathways of gene function; genetically-based studies of neuronal patterning, migration, connectivity, and cognitive/behavioral function; and the genetic basis of normal neural development and function.  The cluster promotes collecting family data and applying molecular genetic methodologies for gene identification, and development of gene-based therapeutics for neurological disorders and pharmaceuticals targeted to specific gene products.  The Neurogenetics cluster also develops resources for neurogenetics research, such as tissue and information registries, atlases of gene expression and function, and mutagenesis and phenotyping methodologies.

Quick Links

Workshop Summary

• Mitochondrial Encephalopathies: Potential Relationships to Autism? June 29, 2008
• Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Ischemic Stroke Workshop May 6, 2008
• NIH Workshop on Translational Research in Muscular Dystrophy June 25, 2007
• Shared Neurobiology of Autism and Related Disorders June 10, 2007
• Lysosomal Storage Diseases Research Support by NINDS: A Meeting with Patient Voluntary Groups May 16, 2007
• Towards Clinical Progress in the Mucopolysaccharidoses March 7, 2007
• Frontotemporal Dementia Workshop January 18, 2007
• All NINDS Workshop Summaries and Conference Proceedings

Neurogenetics Funding Initiatives

• All Neurogenetics funding initiatives

Neurogenetics Program Staff

Scientific Staff	Research Area
Laura Mamounas, Ph.D. Program Director	neurotrophic factor mechanisms in neural regeneration and plasticity, neurotrophin signaling and molecular determinants of neurodevelopment
John Porter, Ph.D. Program Director	Genomics and proteomics for basic and translational research in inherited brain disorders
Robert Riddle, Ph.D. Program Director	neural development, molecular genetics
Danilo Tagle, Ph.D. Program Director	Genomics and proteomics for basic and translational research in inherited brain disorders
Amelie Gubitz, Ph.D. Program Analyst
Ran Zhang, Ph.D. Program Analyst

 

Address

Neurogenetics
Neuroscience Center
Room NSC 2136
6001 Executive Blvd.
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
For courier service only, use Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: (301) 496-5745
Fax: (301) 402-1501