Our Research
Data visualization class held in the Athenaeum classroom in Newman Library.
From genes, to cells, to synapses, circuits and behavior - our researchers are using multiple model systems to understand how the healthy brain develops and what processes go awry in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Healthy Brain Development
There is still much to learn about brain development. The research programs of VT Scientists span from the development and maturation of brain cell types, synaptic development and plasticity, neurogenesis, and circuit development, to language and vision development, and learning in both preclinical animal studies and human translation studies.
Atypical Brain Development
According to the CDC, one in every six children in the US has a neurodevelopmental disorder. These disorders arise from changes in the genome, changes in the immune system of affected individuals or the mother during pregnancy, metabolic disorders, social and nutritional deprivation, trauma, or toxicity exposure. Many neurodevelopmental disorders are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. Regardless of the cause, neurodevelopmental disorders impact gene and protein expression in the major cell types of the brain, the synaptic connections between neurons, and brain circuit activity.