Soraya Sandoval, graduate student in the Zhao lab, has been awarded the NIMH Mental Health Research Dissertation Grant to Enhance Workforce Diversity (R36). Award recipients will receive 1-2 years of support to complete their dissertation leading to a Ph.D. Her project aims to characterize Fragile X 3D Cortical Organoids.
Fragile X is a genetic disorder caused by the epigenetic silencing of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1), which typically produces a protein called FMRP. This mutation leads to loss of FMRP, negatively affecting neurodevelopment.
3D cortical organoids derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have become a promising tool to evaluate human neurodevelopment. Sandoval proposes using 3D cortical organoids derived from FMR1-deficient iPSCs at different developmental stages to study cortical development, electrical activity, and genetic signatures.
Congratulations, Soraya!