Maija Castrén

My research has investigated neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism spectrum disorder, using fragile X syndrome (FXS) as a model disease. We have shown that the absence of FMR1 protein affects differentiation of human and mouse FXS neural progenitors leading changes in calcium dynamics and functional responses of differentiated neuronal cells. Using both human and mouse cell cultures, our studies have demonstrated that disturbed cellular homeostasis and astrocyte-neuron interactions contribute to impaired neuronal function and altered balance of neuronal nets in FXS. My research that elucidates molecular mechanisms underlying the FXS phenotype both in human and mouse in vitro and in vivo aims at improved strategies to treat FXS.