Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. While rare and common genetic variants have identified over 250 ASD-associated genes and copy number variants (CNVs), the mechanisms through which environmental exposures modify genetic susceptibility remain poorly understood. A major barrier to progress has been insufficient sample size to rigorously investigate gene-environment interactions (G×E). To address this gap, we are applying novel data analytic approaches to genetic and exposure data in large biobank cohorts. This project we will investigate prenatal exposures and early-life environmental factors in one of our deeply phenotyped cohorts (ABCD, HBCD and MoBa) with genome-wide genetic data, neurodevelopmental assesments.

This project is applying integrative approaches, combining genetic association data in autism with detailed functional information on gene networks and cell-type and spatial expression of genes to define specific dimensions of phenotype and function within the autism spectrum

Hypothesis that chromatin's contribution to nuclear mechanics enables the inference of expressed genes.

- investigate morphological pathways in the transition from monomorphonuclear to polymorphonuclear cells during differentiation using data-driven and biophysical models

- connect morphological pathways to gene expression profiles