Sabin N
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Washington University in St. Louis
Expertise
Neuroscience, Genetics, Genomics, Epigenetics, Biochemistry, Genomics, Cancer biology
Bio
My name is Sabin Nettles and I am a neuroscience PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. I am conducting my dissertation research where I am investigating gene regulatory mechanisms and pathways that contribute to the development and maintenance of the mammalian brain. By combining genetic, genomic and biochemical approaches in mouse models, I can identify and dissect these gene regulatory pathways in neurons. A broad goal of my work is to understand how disruption of these regulatory mechanisms lead to neurodevelopmental diseases. I am a native of Nashville, Tennessee and went to college in Boston, Massachusetts. One of my goals as a neuroscientist is to serve in the same role that my mentors served for me. I am actively involved in initiatives that promote student development, diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. I serve as a graduate student mentor for undergraduate research students interested in biomedical laboratory research. Through these research experiences, I am able to share my enthusiasm and passion for my research project with the next generation of neuroscientist. Also, I am co-Director of a neuroscience outreach program at Washington University in St. Louis called Brain Discovery, which pairs elementary school students in the St. Louis area with Washington University in St. Louis neuroscientists. This program teaches students about the brain and nervous system, by having the students engage in hands-on experiments and activities, while learning about the scientific process and what it means to be a scientist.Project ideas
Understanding how gene mutations cause neurological disease
The nervous system is the control center of the human body and is composed of the brain, the spinal cord and nerves. Injury or disease to the nervous system can impair normal functioning. There are hundreds of neurological disorders affecting brain development and function. Many neurological disorders are caused by gene mutations that can disrupt certain pathways and process that are critical for normal brain function, such as Huntington's disease and muscular Dystrophy. In this project you can: 1) Identify a genetic mutation that causes a neurological disorder and investigate clinical cases of patients with the disorder. 2) Does this neurological disorder have a treatment or a cure? Explore how pharmacological treatments and clinical trials work. 3) Interview a physician or scientist who studies a particular neurological disorder. Explore how scientist study this particular neurological disorder. Explore how physicians treat a patient with the disease. 4) Explore whether neurological disorders affect certain populations more than others (i.e. neurodegenerative disorders prevalent in geriatric populations
