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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

Mari Sepp
Group Leader, PI: Mari Sepp, PhD | Associate professor in developmental genetics and neurobiology
Mari Sepp received her doctoral degree from Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, where she worked under the supervision of Prof. Tõnis Timmusk. She subsequently completed her postdoctoral training in the research group of Prof. Henrik Kaessmann at Heidelberg University, Germany. Since 2025, she has led a research group at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Estonia. In 2024, Sepp was awarded the Otto Schmeil Prize for outstanding work in the fields of medicine and biology from the Academy of Sciences of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. She was selected as a SFARI Bridge to Independence fellow in 2024 and as an EMBO Installation grantee in 2025.

CV
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ORCID
Bluesky: @marisepp.bsky.social

Group members

Kersti Lilleväli
Research Fellow
CV
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Hanna Vihma
PhD in Gene Technology
Research Fellow
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ORCID
Research interests: Intersection of gene regulation, brain development, and translational neuroscience

Annika Trei
Chief Specialist of Cell Culture and Laboratory Operations
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ORCID
Research interests: Human pluripotent stem cells, cell culture, cell reprogramming, and cell-based research

Signi Ereline
Project manager

Christina Grozou
MSc in Clinical Toxicology (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) & MSc in Medical Research (Uppsala University)
Junior Research Fellow
Google Scholar
ORCID
Research interests: Developmental biology, neurodevelopment, molecular biology, gene regulation, and molecular mechanisms of disease

Hemanth Sreenivasa
Junior Research Fellow

Mariya Roy
MSc student

Maret Merits
BSc student

Nini Mzhavanadze
BSc student
Research interests: Developmental biology, embryology, stem cell biology, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and the molecular mechanisms underlying human development

Selected publications

  • Evolutionary perspectives on the development of the mammalian cerebellum: From cellular diversity to gene regulatory programs
    Yamada, T., Sarropoulos, I., Sepp, M. (2026)
    Current Topics in Developmental Biology

  • The evolution of gene regulation in mammalian cerebellum development
    Sarropoulos, I.*, Sepp, M.*, Yamada, T.* et al. (2026)
    Science

  • Cellular development and evolution of the mammalian cerebellum
    Sepp, M.*, Leiss, K.* et al. (2024)
    Nature

  • Developmental and evolutionary dynamics of cis-regulatory elements in mouse cerebellar cells
    Sarropoulos, I.*, Sepp, M.* et al. (2021)
    Science

Funding

SFARI Fellows-to-Faculty Award, Simons Foundation
Team Grant, Estonian Research Council
Installation Grant, EMBO
Mobilitas Grant, Estonian Research Council
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu