Research summary
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual or learning disabilities, account for up to 14 per cent of children in Canada. Immune dysfunction may contribute significantly to these brain disorders or be a secondary effect of abnormal brain development. As Canada Research Chair in Understanding Gene Expression in the Brain, Dr. Annie Ciernia is shedding light on how the immune system interacts with the developing brain and how the two systems regulate gene expression to coordinate brain development.
Her research focuses on how alterations to the function of the brain’s immune cells (called microglia) in early development lead to changes in cellular function, microglia-neuron interactions, and ultimately, behavioural development. Using state-of-the-art sequencing, bioinformatics, and molecular and behavioural analytical techniques, she and her research team aim to identify new pathways and gene targets for gene- and immune-based drugs for neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD.