https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-rss/?orgId=110305&title=Latest+News A selection of the latest research, academic, and other newsworthy developments at Program in Neurodevelopment and Regeneration en-us Copyright 2026 Yale School of Medicine Thu, 14 May 2026 21:11:59 Z https://news.yale.edu/2025/07/02/change-trackers-new-consortium-catalog-dna-mutations-across-human-lifetime https://news.yale.edu/2025/07/02/change-trackers-new-consortium-catalog-dna-mutations-across-human-lifetime In a multi-institution project, scientists will track genetic mutations occurring across the lifetime of 150 healthy individuals with the aim of understanding how they affect development, aging, and disease. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:00:00 Z https://rdcu.be/euuS5 https://rdcu.be/euuS5 Coorens, T.H.H., Oh, J.W., Choi, Y.A. et al. The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues Network. Nature 643, 47–59 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09096-7 Thu, 03 Jul 2025 04:00:00 Z https://news.yale.edu/2025/05/01/how-molecular-traffic-cops-guide-development-human-brain https://news.yale.edu/2025/05/01/how-molecular-traffic-cops-guide-development-human-brain A new Yale study offers new insight into how morphogens help regulate the development of stem cells into specialized brain cells. Thu, 01 May 2025 15:00:00 Z https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1l0yE6tu0CtjBB https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1l0yE6tu0CtjBB Specification of human brain regions with orthogonal gradients of WNT and SHH in organoids reveals patterning variations across cell lines. Scuderi S, Kang TY, Jourdon A, Nelson A, Yang L, Wu F, Anderson GM, Mariani J, Tomasini L, Sarangi V, Abyzov A, Levchenko A, Vaccarino FM. Cell Stem Cell. 2025 Apr 28; 2025 Apr 28. PMID: 40315847. Thu, 01 May 2025 04:00:00 Z https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1kxPt1S07xv72 https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1kxPt1S07xv72 Interneuron loss and microglia activation by transcriptome analyses in the basal ganglia of Tourette disorder. Wang Y, Fasching L, Wu F, Suvakov M, Huttner A, Berretta S, Roberts R, Leckman JF, Fernandez TV, Abyzov A, Vaccarino FM. Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 30; 2025 Jan 30. PMID: 39892689. Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:00:00 Z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08487-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08487-6 A framework for neural organoids, assembloids and transplantation studies. Pașca SP, Arlotta P, Bateup HS, Camp JG, Cappello S, Gage FH, Knoblich JA, Kriegstein AR, Lancaster MA, Ming GL, Novarino G, Okano H, Parmar M, Park IH, Reiner O, Song H, Studer L, Takahashi J, Temple S, Testa G, Treutlein B, Vaccarino FM, Vanderhaeghen P, Young-Pearse T. Nature. 2024 Dec 9; 2024 Dec 9. PMID: 39653126. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:00:00 Z https://corticaldevelopment.wordpress.com/ https://corticaldevelopment.wordpress.com/ Neural Stem Cells to Neural Circuits Giardini Naxos, Sicily, Italy - 25 May to 28 May 2025 Fri, 01 Nov 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-professors-awarded-dollar19-million-grant-for-gene-expression-research/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-professors-awarded-dollar19-million-grant-for-gene-expression-research/ Two distinguished Yale professors, Dr. Hongyu Zhao, PhD, and Dr. Mark Gerstein, PhD, have been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to advance the Developmental Genotype-Tissue Expression (dGTEx) project. This landmark initiative aims to unravel the complexities of gene expression patterns across developmental stages, providing critical insights into genetic influences on health and disease. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:00:00 Z https://x.com/KavliAtYale/status/1797627518570398098 https://x.com/KavliAtYale/status/1797627518570398098 Congratulations to Soraya Scuderi, associate research scientist in the Vaccarino lab, for receiving a 2024 Postdoc Mentor Award! Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.amacad.org/events/haifan-lin-amory-prize-presentation https://www.amacad.org/events/haifan-lin-amory-prize-presentation Yale President Peter Salovey hosted a celebration of stem cell biologist Haifan Lin as he received the Amory Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Tue, 02 Apr 2024 22:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/chawarska-and-colleagues-receive-2024-nancy-staub-publications-award/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/chawarska-and-colleagues-receive-2024-nancy-staub-publications-award/ Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) Professor Kasia Chawarska, Senior Research Scientist Suzanne Macari, and their co-authors were honored with the 2024 Nancy Staub Publications Award for excellence in writing on the art of puppetry on March 21. Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:00:00 Z https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/the-power-of-collaboration/ https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/the-power-of-collaboration/ An openness to collaboration is just one factor in the popularity of team science at YSM. Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/congratulations-to-flora-vaccarino-elected-to-the-association-of-american-physicians-aap/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/congratulations-to-flora-vaccarino-elected-to-the-association-of-american-physicians-aap/ YCSC Harris Professor Flora Vaccarino, MD has been elected to membership in the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and will be introduced at a formal AAP dinner on Saturday, April 6, 2024 as part of the the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting at the Swissôtel Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 Z https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f4I_lAci9ZB7BYnI3A15RCVbNQ9RNJdn/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f4I_lAci9ZB7BYnI3A15RCVbNQ9RNJdn/view?usp=sharing Complex motor stereotypies, or stereotyped movements, are repetitive and rhythmic movements that usually start in early childhood and often continue into adulthood. The movements may include hand flapping, waving, rotating or tensing of body parts, and are observed just as frequently in both boys and girls. It is worth noting that children often develop their own "signature" movement patterns. Some may flap their arms while walking in circles, while others may repeatedly shrug their shoulders or tense their hands. Complex motor stereotypies may be distinguished from simple motor stereotypies. The latter are common in early childhood, and include nail biting, tapping or fidgeting, and usually disappear as children grow older. Complex motor stereotypies are frequently observed in children with autism, developmental delays, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], anxiety, and some neurological conditions. However, they also occur in children who are developing typically. Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/haifan-lin-earns-the-francis-amory-prize/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/haifan-lin-earns-the-francis-amory-prize/ Lin is a stem cell biologist who has made essential contributions to the fields of reproductive biology, developmental biology, and stem cell biology. Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 Z https://www.amacad.org/news/haifan-lin-amory-prize https://www.amacad.org/news/haifan-lin-amory-prize Scientist Haifan Lin has been awarded the Francis Amory Prize in Reproductive Medicine and Physiology by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Wed, 31 Jan 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/fall-2023-spark-award-recipients-announced/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/fall-2023-spark-award-recipients-announced/ The Yale Institute for Global Health has selected Thomas Fernandez, MD; Eleanor Reid, MD, PhD; and Vanessa Ezenwa, PhD to receive the Fall 2023 Spark Award. Each recipient will receive an award of up to $10,000. The Spark Award aims to provide initial funding to support global health research initiatives and partnerships among YIGH-affiliated faculty. Candidates were selected based on five criteria: innovation, feasibility, sustainability, anticipated outcomes, and alignment with YIGH’s mission to improve the health of individuals and populations worldwide. Below is a summary of the Fall 2023 Spark Award projects and their Principal Investigators: Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 Z https://site.autismadvocateparentingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Researchers_Investigate_Head_Size_and_Autism-789842.pdf https://site.autismadvocateparentingmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Researchers_Investigate_Head_Size_and_Autism-789842.pdf A recent study led by Dr. Flora Vaccarino explored the different cell types in cortical organoids to gain a better understanding of the development of macrocephaly in autistic individuals. Fri, 05 Jan 2024 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-ecpc-the-andrea-bocelli-foundation-celebrate-un-events-empowering-youth-through-music-for-a-more-peaceful-world/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-ecpc-the-andrea-bocelli-foundation-celebrate-un-events-empowering-youth-through-music-for-a-more-peaceful-world/ Leaders in science, education, and the musical arts join in NYC to celebrate the transformative power of children, youth, and families to build a more peaceful world. Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:12:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/social-and-affective-neuroscience-of-autism-lab/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/social-and-affective-neuroscience-of-autism-lab/ The Social and Affective Neuroscience of Autism (SANA) lab focuses on early social and affective development of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. In this inaugural blog post by SANA Program Director Kasia Chawarska, PhD, two studies are featured that are actively recruiting infants and young children. Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:00:00 Z https://www.sfari.org/2023/11/09/two-studies-using-brain-organoids-reveal-cell-type-specific-changes-during-the-early-stages-of-human-forebrain-neuronal-development-in-autism/?mc_cid=cd7af25298 https://www.sfari.org/2023/11/09/two-studies-using-brain-organoids-reveal-cell-type-specific-changes-during-the-early-stages-of-human-forebrain-neuronal-development-in-autism/?mc_cid=cd7af25298 SFARI Investigators Flora Vaccarino at Yale University and Alexej Abyzov at Mayo Clinic used brain organoids to investigate neurobiological mechanisms linking brain size with idiopathic autism (autism without a known cause) (Jourdon et al., Nat. Neurosci., 2023). Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 Z https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/getting-it-right-with-medical-ai/ https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/getting-it-right-with-medical-ai/ Getting it “right” with medical AI Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 Z https://news.yale.edu/2023/10/26/researchers-identify-key-genes-development-primate-brain https://news.yale.edu/2023/10/26/researchers-identify-key-genes-development-primate-brain Yale researchers have revealed the molecular origins of the developmental differences that distinguish primates from mice. Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:00:00 Z https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/head-size-parts-autism-into-two-major-subtypes/ https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/head-size-parts-autism-into-two-major-subtypes/ Opposite paths in fetal brain development may explain two major subtypes of autism, a new study finds. Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/ycsc-celebrates-professional-progression/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/ycsc-celebrates-professional-progression/ Several members of the Yale Child Study Center community recently came together in person to celebrate and recognize recent academic and professional progression among faculty and staff. Department Chair Linda Mayes (pictured) provided opening remarks and served cake to attendees. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/leckman-to-receive-human-values-award/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/leckman-to-receive-human-values-award/ Yale Child Study Center faculty member James Leckman, MD, PhD has been selected to receive the Human Values Award through the World Culture Festival Global Leadership Forum to honor his work with the Early Childhood Peace Consortium. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:00:00 Z https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2023-09-07/yale-researchers-find-two-types-of-autism-underscoring-the-need-for-different-treatments https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2023-09-07/yale-researchers-find-two-types-of-autism-underscoring-the-need-for-different-treatments Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center have discovered at least two different types of autism. The findings, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, suggest a need for more than just one drug to treat symptoms. Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 Z https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/yale-autism-study-findings-18334411.php https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/yale-autism-study-findings-18334411.php YCSC researchers comment on recent study findings indicating that Autism spectrum disorder may be associated with an imbalance of excitatory neurons in the brain, which could have implications for future treatment options. Sun, 03 Sep 2023 04:00:00 Z https://www.science.org/content/article/your-cells-don-t-have-genome-you-were-born-project-aims-chart-impact-new-mutations https://www.science.org/content/article/your-cells-don-t-have-genome-you-were-born-project-aims-chart-impact-new-mutations Every person is actually a mosaic of genomes, varying across the body and often within the same organ or tissue. Now, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a 5-year, $140 million project to map this universe of genomic diversity—and probe why it matters. Featuring YSM's Flora Vaccarino. Wed, 16 Aug 2023 04:00:00 Z https://www.healthline.com/health-news/researchers-use-mini-brains-to-look-for-origin-of-autism?utm_source=ReadNext https://www.healthline.com/health-news/researchers-use-mini-brains-to-look-for-origin-of-autism?utm_source=ReadNext A new study has highlighted an association between neurodevelopmental abnormalities and autism development. Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:00:00 Z https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-08-11/brain-organoid-study-hints-at-the-origins-of-autism https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-08-11/brain-organoid-study-hints-at-the-origins-of-autism Research using three-dimensional replicas of the developing brain created in a lab dish is shedding new light on autism spectrum disorder. Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:15:00 Z https://news.yale.edu/2023/08/10/yale-scientists-reveal-two-paths-autism-developing-brain https://news.yale.edu/2023/08/10/yale-scientists-reveal-two-paths-autism-developing-brain Two distinct abnormalities that arise just weeks after the start of brain development have been associated with the emergence of autism spectrum disorder. The study was co-led by Alexandre Jourdon, Feinan Wu, and Jessica Mariani, all from the Kavli Institute affiliated lab of Flora Vaccarino at Yale School of Medicine. Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:00:00 Z https://rdcu.be/djb6v https://rdcu.be/djb6v "Modeling idiopathic autism in forebrain organoids reveals an imbalance of excitatory cortical neuron subtypes during early neurogenesis" Thu, 10 Aug 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-scientists-develop-a-new-approach-to-strengthen-car-t-cell-therapy/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-scientists-develop-a-new-approach-to-strengthen-car-t-cell-therapy/ Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are a powerful, new form of cancer therapy that are being studied to treat blood cancers. Using a new approach, Yale Cancer Center researchers at Yale School of Medicine found a new way to substantially improve the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy. Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:00:00 Z https://mailchi.mp/libd/neurodevelopments-9257093 https://mailchi.mp/libd/neurodevelopments-9257093 Through the genomic sands of time Archaic genomes provide insights into human brain evolution and disease Mon, 05 Jun 2023 04:00:00 Z https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/round-up/ https://medicine.yale.edu/ysm/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/round-up/ A collection of recent scientific findings Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 Z https://academic.oup.com/nar/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/nar/gkad254/7110756?utm_source=advanceaccess&utm_campaign=nar&utm_medium=email https://academic.oup.com/nar/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/nar/gkad254/7110756?utm_source=advanceaccess&utm_campaign=nar&utm_medium=email "Efficient reconstruction of cell lineage trees for cell ancestry and cancer" Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/chawarska-selected-as-2023-fellow-for-international-society-for-autism-research/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/chawarska-selected-as-2023-fellow-for-international-society-for-autism-research/ Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) Professor Kasia Chawarska was recently selected by the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) as a 2023 INSAR Fellow. Mon, 10 Apr 2023 04:00:00 Z https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/04/04/researchers-explore-the-role-of-cellular-plasticity-in-cancer/ https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/04/04/researchers-explore-the-role-of-cellular-plasticity-in-cancer/ A recently published Yale study explored how cancer cell plasticity — which refers to the ability of cells to adapt their phenotypes in response to environmental signals without undergoing genetic alterations — might impact the development, progression and treatment of cancer. Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-led-team-creates-comprehensive-resource-for-impact-of-genomic-variants/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/yale-led-team-creates-comprehensive-resource-for-impact-of-genomic-variants/ Yale School of Medicine has led a large NIH-sponsored study where multiple institutions and international collaborators came together to address the impact of variants in the human genome. Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:00:00 Z https://bigthink.com/health/cancer-evolution/ https://bigthink.com/health/cancer-evolution/ Cancer is often seen as a disease that arises from genetic mutations causing cells to divide uncontrollably and invade other parts of the body. But the spread of cells away from their origins is actually a normal process in some cases. Fri, 24 Feb 2023 04:00:00 Z https://westcampus.yale.edu/news/study-reveals-new-insight-shape-shifting-cancer-cells https://westcampus.yale.edu/news/study-reveals-new-insight-shape-shifting-cancer-cells A collaboration between researchers at Yale and Johns Hopkins University has come up with a new way to quantify how genetic and external - ‘epigenetic’ - changes can lead to increasing cellular plasticity and cancer emergence. The results of the study suggest different scenarios of how new cellular states may emerge, and how cells continuously ‘shape-shift’ or ‘morph’ between states to escape treatments. Fri, 10 Feb 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/3d-organoid-models-show-brain-mechanisms-of-tourette-syndrome/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/childstudy/news-article/3d-organoid-models-show-brain-mechanisms-of-tourette-syndrome/ An absence of specialized neurons in the basal ganglia of the brain appears to be key to the presence and severity of Tourette syndrome and its associated tics, a Yale study found. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:00:00 Z https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/discovery-oxygens-role-growth-tumors-reconsidered https://seas.yale.edu/news-events/news/discovery-oxygens-role-growth-tumors-reconsidered Yale researchers have made a discovery that changes conventional thinking about the role that oxygen plays in the growth of tumors—an area of cancer research that has been intensely studied in recent years. Fri, 16 Dec 2022 04:00:00 Z