University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · BiologyGritton Lab
Howard Gritton · Champaign, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Howard Gritton's lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focuses on understanding how exposure to certain environmental chemicals, particularly phthalates, impacts brain development and behavior. The research aims to reveal the connections between these exposures and social behavior changes, especially in relation to autism spectrum disorders. By studying animal models, the lab investigates how these chemicals might alter brain connectivity and gene expression tied to social behavior.
phthalatesautismneurodevelopmentsocial behaviorendocrine disruptors
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how phthalate exposure affects brain connectivity in developing mice.
AIM 02Examine the relationship between phthalate exposure and social behavior alterations.
AIM 03Assess changes in gene expression linked to dopaminergic signaling due to phthalates.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelsMRI imaginggene expression analysisbehavioral assaysbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications85bottom 27% of dept.748th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.8kbottom 21% of dept.821st of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.