Research Team Members
Liang Ma, PhD
Neurodevelopmental disorders, like schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease, are highly heritable diseases. The long-term goal of Liang Ma, PhD, lab is to bridge neurogenetics and neurobiology by determining risk genes/transcripts across a range of human brain diseases and investigate which and how genomic variations affect gene transcriptions and further contribute to diseases’ risk.
Dr. Ma’s research interest focuses on identifying causative genomic variations, genes, and splicing transcripts of human polygenic diseases using genome-wide association study (GWAS), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and DNA methylation. Using cutting-edge integrative omics approaches, he has identified a list of functional genetic variants and gene domains, like SNX19, CYP2D6, that potentially increase the risk of schizophrenia. Another research interest of his lab is performing genome editing on neural stem cells of their identified genomic targets, followed by genome editing of human iPS cell lines, and differentiated them to functional neurons and glia for mechanism investigation. The results will help provide accurate molecular targets to guide the future development of precise and effective therapeutics.
Research Areas
Biological & Innovative Research
Contact:
mal1@uthscsa.edu
Research Profile
Debora Melo van Lent, PhD
Research Areas
Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, FAASM
Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, FAASM, is a leading expert in sleep and sleep disorders in military personnel and veterans. Dr. Mysliwiec has over 15 years of experience conducting research in military populations and has authored over 70 scientific manuscripts. His research has led to insights into the clinical sleep disorders military personnel and veterans have, to include comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea and the proposed parasomnia, trauma associated sleep disorder. His current research includes the largest study to date, evaluating gender differences in sleep disorders in military men and women, further development of trauma associated sleep disorder and the first questionnaire to evaluate sleep disorders in military personnel.
Research Areas
Clinical Research
Contact:
Research Profile
Anoop Benet Nirmala, PhD
Research Areas