University of Washington-Seattle Campus · PharmacologyNeuronal Development and Kinase Unit
Smita Yadav · Seattle, Washington
Research Focus
Dr. Smita Yadav's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how protein kinases, particularly TAOK1, affect the growth and function of neurons. The research examines how mutations in TAOK1 are linked to autism and related disorders, revealing the complex processes that govern neuronal development and how these processes can go awry. Through innovative techniques in biochemistry and stem cell biology, the lab seeks to uncover new therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
neurodevelopmental disordersautismprotein kinasesTAOK1neuronal developmentbiochemistrystem cell technologyproteomicsneuron morphology
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of TAOK1 mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders.
AIM 02Understand how TAOK1 signaling regulates neuronal development.
AIM 03Determine the biological principles of TAOK1 membrane binding and remodeling.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureinduced pluripotent stem cell technologyproteomicsmolecular biology techniqueselectrophysiologychemical geneticsX-ray crystallographydata analysisexperimental modelinglipid binding assays
Output against the department
Publications46bottom 5% of dept.437th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.3kbottom 7% of dept.429th of 462
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.