Welcome

The research lab of Liang Ma, PhD, seeks to bridge the gap between genomic risk loci of brain illnesses and neurobiological mechanisms by decoding the regulatory relationships of the human genome. The lab’s vision is that decoding gene regulation can advance the understanding of neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases.

The lab’s research leverages genetic and genomic tools to identify the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the lab strives to translate biological insights from basic research into the clinic.

The research approach lays at the intersection between computational biology, molecular biology, and stem cell biology, with massively parallel perturbations. This integrative approach allows the lab to interrogate the versatile and interconnected function of genes, cells, and tissues, going from a system-level view to specific molecular mechanisms.