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2025 UW IDDRC Genetics Core Pilot Grant Recipients
The UW IDDRC Genetics Core is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Visium HD Spatial Transcriptomics pilot award. Each selected project will receive two 10x Visium HD chips (1 slide), contingent on tissue meeting quality control standards. These awards support research that advances our understanding of human development and developmental disabilities.
Tim Cherry
Title: Assessing MIR9 expression in the developing human brain: a regulator of congenital hydrocephalus risk pathways
Congenital hydrocephalus, the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain, can lead to significant developmental challenges. MIR9-2 is a microRNA that is missing in individuals with 5q14.3 Microdeletion Syndrome. Dr. Cherry has developed a mouse model showing that when MIR9-2 is disrupted, it causes bleeding and severe ventriculomegaly in the developing brain, ultimately resulting in hydrocephalus. In collaboration with the Birth Defects Research Laboratory, Dr. Cherry aims to understand the role of MIR9 in human brain development.
Plain language summary: Dr. Tim Cherry is studying a small molecule called MIR9-2 that may be linked to hydrocephalus, a condition where too much fluid builds up in a baby’s brain. He’s using brain tissue to learn how this molecule affects brain development, which may help us understand and treat this condition in the future.
Olivia Brandon
Title: Regional transcriptomic signatures of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in human brain tissue
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment with limited treatment options. In collaboration with renowned neuropathologist Dr. Raj Kapur, the team will assess transcriptomic profiles of brain tissue from infants with and without autopsy-confirmed ischemic injury. They will then compare the HIE transcriptomic profiles across species to evaluate the translational validity of animal models for HIE research and therapeutic development.
Plain language summary: Olivia Brandon’s project explores how brain injuries in newborns caused by a lack of oxygen affect gene activity. Her team will study donated infant brain tissue and compare it to animal models to see how well lab research reflects real-life human conditions.
Kathleen Millen
Title: Investigating the molecular pathogenesis of Dandy-Walker malformation
Many human neurodevelopmental disorders include cerebellar malformations, yet most of what is known about cerebellar development is from mice. The Millen Lab aims to identify the altered molecular and cellular programs that contribute to the developmental pathogenesis of Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM), a morphological diagnosis of the cerebellum in humans. The team will compare DWM and control cerebellum tissue to test the hypothesis that DWM arises from disruptions in the proliferation and self-renewal of cerebellar progenitor cells.
Plain language summary: Dr. Kathleen Millen and her team are researching Dandy-Walker malformation, a condition that affects the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. They’ll compare brain tissue from people with and without the condition to understand what goes wrong during development.
