Autism Center Researchers

Center Faculty

Polina Anikeeva is developing new tools to examine the gut-brain connection and how gastrointestinal dysfunction can arise in ASD.

Guoping Feng leads a broad effort to create new models of autism using CRISPR gene-editing tools.

John Gabrieli uses brain imaging to study reward circuitry and language networks in the brains of individuals with ASD.

Feng Zhang is pioneering gene therapy approaches to ASD using CRISPR editing systems.
Group Leaders

Rogier Landman
Research Scientist, Feng Lab | Group Leader, Neurobehavior
Rogier Landman is developing and optimizing automated behavioral tracking systems and behavioral tasks for for measuring social interactions and cognitive function in NHP models of brain disorders.
Participating labs: Desimone, Halassa, Sur, and Feng

Jitendra Sharma
Research Scientist, Sur Lab | Group Leader, Neurophysiology
Jitendra Sharma is developing and optimizing tools and protocols for measuring neuronal activities in NHP models of brain disorders. These technologies include EEG, ECoG and multi-electrode recording, fMRI and multi-photon imaging.
Participating labs: Desimone, Sur, Halassa, and Anikeeva

Martin Wienisch
Research Scientist, Feng Lab | Group Leader, Genome Editing Technology
Martin Wienisch is developing and improving genome-editing methods for efficiently generating NHP models for neuroscience and brain disorders research.
Participating labs: Zhang and Feng

Qiangge Zhang
Research Scientist, Feng Lab | Group Leader, Transgenesis
Qiangge Zhang is developing and improving assisted reproduction technology for efficiently generating NHP models for neuroscience and brain disorders research.
Participating labs: Feng and Desimone
J. Douglas Tan Postdoctoral Fellows

Sarah Bricault
Postdoctoral Fellow, Jasanoff Lab
Sarah Bricault is interested in the brain’s activity while it is at rest, and how differences in “resting state” activity may be linked to complex brain disorders.

Ruidong Chen
Postdoctoral Fellow, Jazayeri Lab
Ruidong Chen studies social cognition at the level of systems neuroscience, using the language of algorithms embedded in neural circuits.

Cui Li
Postdoctoral Fellow, Feng Lab
Cui Li studies the role of myelin — the insulating sheath around neurons — in behaviors associated with ASD.

Jinyoung Kang
Postdoctoral Fellow, Boyden Lab
Jinyoung is developing and applying expansion microscopy technology for revealing synapse configurations with ~15 nm resolution in health and disease models.

Ying Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow, Feng Lab
Ying Zhang is investigating memory impairments associated with autism by working to understand the neural connections in the anterior dorsal thalamus.