Tan-Yang Researchers

Principal Investigators

Polina Anikeeva

Polina Anikeeva is developing new tools to examine the gut-brain connection and how gastrointestinal dysfunction can arise in ASD.

Guoping Feng

Guoping Feng leads a broad effort from the Tan-Yang Center to create new models of autism using CRISPR gene-editing tools.

John Gabrieli

John Gabrieli uses brain imaging to study reward circuitry and language networks in the brains of individuals with ASD.

Feng Zhang

Feng Zhang is pioneering gene therapy approaches to ASD using CRISPR editing systems.

Group Leaders

Rogier Landman

Research Scientist, Feng Lab

Group Leader, Neurobehavior

Rogier Landman is developing and optimizing automated behavioral tracking systems and behavioral tasks for for measuring social interactions and cognitive function in NHP models of brain disorders.

Participating Laboratories: Robert Desimone, Michael Halassa, Mriganka Sur, Guoping Feng

Jitendra Sharma

Research Scientist, Sur Lab

Group Leader, Neurophysiology

Jitendra Sharma is developing and optimizing tools and protocols for measuring neuronal activities in NHP models of brain disorders. These technologies include EEG, ECoG and multi-electrode recording, fMRI and multi-photon imaging.

Participating Laboratories: Robert Desimone, Mriganka Sur, Michael Halassa, Polina Anikeeva

Martin Wienisch

Research Scientist, Feng Lab

Group Leader, Genome Editing Technology

 

Martin Wienisch is developing and improving genome-editing methods for efficiently generating NHP models for neuroscience and brain disorders research.

Participating Laboratories: Feng Zhang, Guoping Feng

Qiangge Zhang

Research Scientist, Feng Lab

Group Leader, Transgenesis

Qiangge Zhang is developing and improving assisted reproduction technology for efficiently generating NHP models for neuroscience and brain disorders research.

Participating Laboratories: Guoping Feng, Robert Desimone

J. Douglas Tan Postdoctoral Fellows

Cui Li

Postdoctoral Fellow, Feng Lab

Cui studies the role of myelin — the insulating sheath around neurons — in behaviors associated with ASD.

Changyang Linghu

Postdoctoral Fellow, Boyden Lab

Changyang is developing new tools to precisely map brain activity for analyzing neural computations.

Chenjie Shen

Postdoctoral Fellow, Feng Lab

Chenjie is working to develop new therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders using CRISPR tools that target RNA.

Other Sponsored Researchers

Ed Boyden

Ed Boyden is the Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology at MIT, a position endowed by Lisa Yang in honor of her daughter.

Joe Kreitz

2020-21 Tan-Yang Center Graduate Fellow, Zhang Lab

Joe is developing delivery methods to ensure molecular tools reach the correct tissues and cell types in the brain.

Cindy Li

Autism Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator

Cindy recruits participants for human research studies at MIT that aim to better understand the human brain in autism.