Laura Klinger, PhD, of psychiatry, and Jason Stein, PhD, in genetics, together with Joseph Piven, MD, in psychiatry, received two $4 million grants to study the root causes and improve therapies to help autistic people live happier and healthier lives.

A decade after winning the Nobel Prize, the UNC professor continues to push the boundaries of discovery while inspiring the next generation and building cultural bridges between the United States and Türkiye.

Each year, the Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence (PARE) are given in recognition of the research promise demonstrated by individual postdoctoral scholars.

In a surprising twist, UNC scientists discovered that SETD2, a tumor suppressor, also preserves nuclear structure during cell division—a hidden role that may explain its tumor-suppressive effects in cancer.

New knowledge of these protein functions will help researchers develop new drug targets for chronic pain, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, migraines, and other neurological conditions.

A new update, led by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and the Gillings School of Global Public Health, describes major findings from the past half decade in the realm of psychiatric genomics and next steps for researchers.

Researchers pinpoint small molecules that greatly affect differences in heart health in men and women.

Building off previous groundbreaking research, a new study identifies specific genetic variants that have significant impacts on brain development and are shared across eight different psychiatric disorders. Targeting these variants could pave the way for treatments that address multiple conditions at once.

A research team led by Daniel McKay, PhD, associate professor in the Departments of Biology and Genetics, has identified a key focal point in the biological processes that control cell identity and can lead to disease when mutated.

The lab of Graham Diering, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology and physiology at the UNC School of Medicine, shows how sleep loss during early life impacts key aspects of brain development and how it can increase one’s risk for developing autism spectrum disorder.

The lab of Jason Stein, PhD, associate professor of genetics and member of the UNC Neuroscience Center, has created a controlled model system that could help researchers identify the context-dependent functions of genetic variants that increase one’s risk for developing a psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia.

In May 2022, Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD, a neurologist at the UNC School of Medicine, met two new patients combatting a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder called Batten disease. With help from UNC, the twin girls were able to get personalized treatment from bench to bedside in record time.

Tag: Genetics

UNC School of Medicine Secures Two Major NIH Grants for Autism Research

The Enduring Legacy of Dr. Aziz Sancar

UNC Research Announces 2025 PARE Award Recipients

UNC Scientists Uncover Hidden Role of Tumor Suppressor Gene in Protecting the Genome

Proteins Important in Neural Communication Have Different Roles Than Previously Thought

A Five Year Update About Psychiatric Genomic Research at UNC

MicroRNA Responsible for Sex Differences in Cardiac Physiology, Disease

Eight Psychiatric Disorders Share the Same Genetic Causes, Study Says

UNC Scientists Discover New Details of Gene Regulation

Let Sleeping Babies Lie: Scientists Highlight Negative Impacts of Sleep Disruption on Early Brain Development

Researchers Create New System to Decode Genetic Risk for Psychiatric Disorders

UNC Fast-Tracks Personalized Treatment for Twins with Ultra Rare Genetic Disorder