Evaluating Gene x Environment Risk Factors for Neuropsychiatric Disorders in a Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Model of Prenatal Immune Challenge to Develop Disease Prevention Strategies

This research program examines genetic and prenatal environmental risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. Our goal is to develop preventive strategies that can be applied prenatally for babies at risk for developing mental illness. A first step is to understand how genetic and environmental risk factors interact in the womb, in order to identify pregnancies at risk and develop novel treatments.