Appropriate extra- and intracellular signaling mechanisms are required for cell fate and tissue organization regulating neurodevelopmental progression. Alterations in temporally regulated molecular programs during neurogenesis can lead to changes in brain formation with lifeline implications. We are particularly interested in understanding the role of mTOR signaling changes to neurodevelopmental programs in ‘mTORopathies’ and how they lead to co-morbid phenotypes including cortical malformations, epilepsy, developmental delay, and autism. To better understand the molecular etiology of these disorders, we use patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell lines and gene editing techniques to explore the impact of molecular changes on cellular morphology, fate decisions, and cortical organization.
