BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ki.se//NONSGML Event Calendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260917T131500Z DTEND:20260917T141500Z DTSTAMP:20260911T074940Z UID:241999 DESCRIPTION:Title: "Using Zebrafish to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Discover Treatments". September 17 at 15:15 in room Ragnar Granit\, Biomedicum.\r\n\r\nWelcome all members of Karolinska Institutet\, as well as researchers and trainees from KTH Royal Institute of Technology\, Stockholm University\, and other universities in the Stockholm region. We warmly encourage students\, postdocs\, and faculty to attend and engage with our distinguished guest.\r\n\r\nSpeaker:Summer Thyme\, Associate Professor of Biochemistry &\;amp\; Molecular Biotechnology\, UMass Chan Medical School\, USATime:&\;nbsp\;17 September\, 15:15–16:15Location:&\;nbsp\;Room Ragnar Granit\, Biomedicum (level 3)\, Solnavägen 9\, SolnaTitle: Using Zebrafish to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Discover TreatmentsAbstract:Currently\, there are no effective pharmacological treatments for most genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Drug development for these conditions is particularly challenging: cell-based screens cannot capture the full complexity of the nervous system\, and our limited understanding of the relevant proteins\, cell types\, and neural circuits hampers targeted strategies. Our lab uses zebrafish\, as this model uniquely combines vertebrate brain complexity with the capacity for high-throughput analysis and conservation of pathways and genes. We are working on two complementary fronts: using genetic mutants to understand disease biology and developing pipelines for drug discovery. We use broad behavioral and brain activity screens coupled with transcriptomic profiling to identify candidate mechanisms\, followed by in-depth mechanistic validation. We have identified zebrafish carrying mutations in orthologs of autism-risk genes that exhibit behavioral deficits in relevant domains\, including working memory and social interaction\, as well as alterations in neuromodulatory systems such as oxytocin and dopamine. More recently\, studies of schizophrenia-risk genes have identified sterol pathway dysregulation as a convergent molecular phenotype across distinct genetic models\, suggesting a potential shared mechanism and therapeutic target. To complement this mutant work\, our lab has recently established a new pipeline for computational drug discovery\, using zebrafish to test the in vivo activity and specificity of predicted compounds. Through rational drug design as well as unbiased compound screens\, we aim to identify compounds that can mitigate disease-relevant phenotypes.Recent papers:Zebrafish screen of schizophrenia risk genes reveals convergent dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism.Moyer AJ\, Capps MES\, Conklin CL\, Bastien BL\, Martina V\, Gannaway WC\, Cummings CE\, Martinez JA\, Chen M\, Kioschos G\, Torija-Olson EG\, Klein MC\, Vivian MD\, Calhoun CCS\, Thyme SBbioRxiv 2026 Feb\;():Disrupted diencephalon development and neuropeptidergic pathways in zebrafish with autism-risk mutations.Capps MES\, Moyer AJ\, Conklin CL\, Martina V\, Torija-Olson EG\, Klein MC\, Gannaway WC\, Calhoun CCS\, Vivian MD\, Thyme SBProc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025 Jun\;122(23):e2402557122Prioritizing neuroactive ligands using motif-guided virtual discovery and zebrafish profiling.Ginsparg AB\, Martinez JA\, Patel I\, Buton A\, Lee LT\, Sarwar R\, Moretti R\, Puig S\, Thyme SBNPJ Drug Discov 2026 Jul\;3(1):Disrupted development of sensory systems and the cerebellum in a zebrafish ebf3a mutant.Dang NDP\, Barcus AK\, Conklin CL\, Truong TQ\, Vivian MD\, Wang J\, Thomas HR\, Parant JM\, Yeo NC\, Thyme SBG3 (Bethesda) 2025 Jul\;15(7):RefreshmentsSandwiches and coffee will be provided.RegistrationNo registration is needed.\r\n\r\nHost\nMichael Ratz\n Assistant Professor\n Email: michael.ratz@ki.se\r\n\r\nPlease note that location\, time and information can be updated on the website.\r\nhttps://news.ki.se/calendar/frontiers-in-neural-circuits-seminar-series-with-summer-thyme CREATED:20260820T065318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T065637Z STATUS:CONFIRMED SUMMARY:Frontiers in Neural Circuits seminar series: with Summer Thyme END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260922T110000Z DTEND:20260922T120000Z DTSTAMP:20260911T074940Z UID:242436 DESCRIPTION:Welcome to a seminar with Ass. Prof. Sander Lambo\, Department of Oncology-Pathology\, Karolinska Institutet.\r\n\r\nHostGalina Selivanova\, Department of Microbiology\, Tumor and Cell Biology\, KIEmail: Galina.Selivanova@ki.se&\;nbsp\;\r\n\r\nPlease note that location\, time and information can be updated on the website.\r\nhttps://news.ki.se/calendar/mtc-cell-and-tumor-biology-seminar-single-cell-epigenomics-and-developmental-plasticity-in-acute-myeloid-leukemia-how-different-paths-lead-back-to-square-one CREATED:20260902T131307Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260902T131616Z STATUS:CONFIRMED SUMMARY:MTC Cell and Tumor Biology seminar: "Single cell epigenomics and developmental plasticity in acute myeloid leukemia: how different paths lead back to square one” END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261001T090000Z DTEND:20261001T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260911T074940Z UID:242666 DESCRIPTION:Title: "RNA-encoded neural plasticity in the prefrontal cortex". October 1 at 11:00 in room Ragnar Granit\, Biomedicum.\r\n\r\nWelcome all members of Karolinska Institutet\, as well as researchers and trainees from KTH Royal Institute of Technology\, Stockholm University\, and other universities in the Stockholm region. We warmly encourage students\, postdocs\, and faculty to attend and engage with our distinguished guest.\r\n\r\nSpeaker:Andrea Gomez\, University of California \, Berkeley\, USA.Time:&\;nbsp\;1 October\, 11:00–12:00Location:&\;nbsp\;Ragnar Granit lecture hall\, Biomedicum (level 3)Title: RNA-encoded neural plasticity in the prefrontal cortexAbstractPsychedelics act through the serotonergic system as potent neuromodulators\, increasing&\;nbsp\;neuroplasticity in humans and rodents and producing lasting changes in cognitive flexibility\, emotional regulation\, and social cognition that are thought to underlie their therapeutic effects. Yet the long-term molecular responses of specific neuron types remain unknown. Here we identify persistent\, cell-type-specific changes in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) after a single psychedelic dose. Using deep RiboTag sequencing\, we find that psychedelic-induced gene expression is largely unchanged and returns to baseline within days\, whereas thousands of alternative splicing shifts persist for at least a month. These persistent events are enriched in mRNAs encoding synaptic\, cell-adhesion\, and RNA-binding proteins. Parvalbumin interneurons show the strongest alternative splicing responses\, which accumulate over a month. An initial wave of splicing events in L2/3 pyramidal neurons declines by one month\, while a delayed but rising response develops in L5 pyramidal neurons. These data indicate that psychedelic-induced splicing changes occur first in inhibitory and superficial excitatory layers and later in deep output layers\, and are accompanied by synaptic and intrinsic physiological phenotypes that emerge sequentially over weeks. We propose an autoregulatory model in which alternative splicing of splicing factors and synaptic organizers alters isoform distributions without changes in transcript abundance. Our data suggest that these isoform distributions may encode information about prior stimuli and contribute to the enduring effects of psychedelics.Recent publicationsPersistent large-scale changes in alternative splicing in prefrontal cortical neuron types following psychedelic exposure.Hsiao Y\, Fonseca MA\, Tiemroth AS\, Vasquez EJ\, Gomez AMbioRxiv 2025 Jan\;():CRISPR epi-editing reveals regulatory crosstalk between alternative promoters and splicing in Neurexin isoform expressionHsiao\, Y.\; Gomez\, A. M.&\;nbsp\;bioRxiv2025\, 2025.09.10.675405.&\;nbsp\;A cell-type-specific alternative splicing regulator shapes synapse properties in a trans-synaptic manner.Traunmüller L\, Schulz J\, Ortiz R\, Feng H\, Furlanis E\, Gomez AM\, Schreiner D\, Bischofberger J\, Zhang C\, Scheiffele PCell Rep 2023 Mar\;42(3):112173Neurexins: molecular codes for shaping neuronal synapses.Gomez AM\, Traunmüller L\, Scheiffele PNat Rev Neurosci 2021 Mar\;22(3):137-151RefreshmentsSandwiches and coffee will be provided.RegistrationNo registration is needed.\r\n\r\nHost\nMichael Ratz\n Assistant Professor\n Email: michael.ratz@ki.se\r\n\r\nPlease note that location\, time and information can be updated on the website.\r\nhttps://news.ki.se/calendar/frontiers-in-neural-circuits-seminar-series-with-andrea-gomez CREATED:20260908T123235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260908T124318Z STATUS:CONFIRMED SUMMARY:Frontiers in Neural Circuits seminar series: with Andrea Gomez END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261015T090000Z DTEND:20261015T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260911T074940Z UID:242449 DESCRIPTION:Title: "Molecular mechanisms governing AAV transduction of neuronal axons". October 15 at 11:00 in room Nils Ringertz\, Biomedicum.\r\n\r\nWelcome all members of Karolinska Institutet\, as well as researchers and trainees from KTH Royal Institute of Technology\, Stockholm University\, and other universities in the Stockholm region. We warmly encourage students\, postdocs\, and faculty to attend and engage with our distinguished guest.\r\n\r\nSpeaker:Arpiar Saunders\,&\;nbsp\;Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)\, Portland\, USA.Time:&\;nbsp\;15 October\, 11:00–12:00Location:&\;nbsp\;Nils Ringertz lecture hall\, Biomedicum (level 3)Title: Molecular mechanisms governing AAV transduction of neuronal axonsAbstractOur lab is broadly focused on understanding the cellular etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. We pursue this goal by developing single-cell and single-virion genomics methods to systematically map the molecular and synaptic organization of neural circuits. In parallel\, we seek to define the molecular mechanisms that govern host–virus interactions within the complex cellular environment of the brain. My seminar will focus on this latter effort. I will introduce a genetic screening approach for identifying receptors and other host factors that control adeno-associated virus (AAV) transduction in primary brain cells. I will then describe a series of experiments defining the molecular mechanism responsible for presynaptic axonal uptake of “retrograde” AAV. Our results reveal an unexpected and highly conserved receptor pathway that enables more predictive use andclinical evaluation of this widely used vector for targeting neural projection systems.Recent publicationsDesign and assembly of combinatorial DNA barcodes for probebased genomics applications&\;nbsp\;Goode Z*\, Tiedemann E*\, Ben Ameur L\, Pavan K\, Young K\, Sek M\, Nevue A\, Zhu J\, Houghton J\, Fu Y\, Boisvert H and Saunders A.&\;nbsp\;(2026). bioRxiv.Human brain cell types shape host-rabies virus transcriptional interactions revealing a preexisting pro-viral astrocyte subpopulation.Feige L\, Young K\, Cerapio JP\, Kozaki T\, Kergoat L\, Libri V\, Ginhoux F\, Hasan M\, Ben Ameur L\, Chin G\, Goode Z\, Bourhy H\, Saunders ACell Rep 2025 Sep\;44(9):116159Ascertaining cells'\; synaptic connections and RNA expression simultaneously with barcoded rabies virus libraries.Saunders A\, Huang KW\, Vondrak C\, Hughes C\, Smolyar K\, Sen H\, Philson AC\, Nemesh J\, Wysoker A\, Kashin S\, Sabatini BL\, McCarroll SANat Commun 2022 Nov\;13(1):6993Molecular Diversity and Specializations among the Cells of the Adult Mouse Brain.Saunders A\, Macosko EZ\, Wysoker A\, Goldman M\, Krienen FM\, de Rivera H\, Bien E\, Baum M\, Bortolin L\, Wang S\, Goeva A\, Nemesh J\, Kamitaki N\, Brumbaugh S\, Kulp D\, McCarroll SACell 2018 Aug\;174(4):1015-1030.e16RefreshmentsSandwiches and coffee will be provided.RegistrationNo registration is needed.\r\n\r\nHost\nMichael Ratz\n Assistant Professor\n Email: michael.ratz@ki.se\r\n\r\nPlease note that location\, time and information can be updated on the website.\r\nhttps://news.ki.se/calendar/frontiers-in-neural-circuits-seminar-series-with-arpiar-saunders CREATED:20260903T080236Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T081056Z STATUS:CONFIRMED SUMMARY:Frontiers in Neural Circuits seminar series: with Arpiar Saunders END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR