Research Group for Developmental Genetics and Neurobiology

The Research Group for Developmental Genetics and Neurobiology investigates how the cerebellum develops, how it has changed during evolution, and how these processes are affected in neurodevelopmental disorders. Although the cerebellum is best known for its role in motor coordination and balance, it is increasingly recognised as an important contributor to cognition, emotion, social behaviour, and language.

A major focus is on autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions. The group studies how associated genetic variants affect cerebellar cell development and whether human-specific developmental features are particularly vulnerable. In parallel, the researchers investigate species- and lineage-specific patterns of gene expression and regulation to understand how evolutionary changes have shaped cerebellar structure and function.

To address these questions, the group combines mouse genetic models and human iPSC-derived organoids with single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR-based perturbations, enhancer reporter assays, and cell-type-specific analyses of cellular morphology.

Visit lab website: sepplab.org