Maria Karayiorgou
Associate Professor
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Laboratory of Human Neurogenetics Maria Karayiorgou Associate Professor |
One focus of our lab is the genetics and neurobiology of
schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is considered a neurodevelopmental
disorder related to neuronal cell
migration abnormalities and to overactivity of the dopaminergic
pathways. We are looking for genes that affect these processes
and whose mutations may contribute to susceptibility to schizophrenia.
We currently focus on chromosome 22q11, which contains hemizygous
deletions associated with schizophrenia. We intend to isolate
these genes and understand their role during normal brain development
and function, and their mode of dysfunction in this disease.
An additional focus of the laboratory is the genetics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Although several studies suggest a genetic component in OCD, inheritance is not simple and most likely involves a number of susceptibility genes and environmental influences. We recently described a gene associated with increased risk for this disorder.
Our ultimate goal is to understand the role of any identified susceptibility genes during normal brain development and function, as well as their mode of dysfunction in the disease.
