University of Pennsylvania · BiologyLorenzo Neurodevelopment Lab
Damaris N Lorenzo · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Damaris N Lorenzo's lab focuses on understanding how II-spectrin, a crucial protein in the neuronal cytoskeleton, contributes to brain development and function, particularly in the cerebellum. Their research investigates the mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental disorders linked to mutations in the SPTBN1 gene, which can lead to developmental delays and other cognitive challenges. By employing a range of techniques from microscopy to behavioral analysis, the lab aims to uncover the cellular pathways affected by II-spectrin and how these relate to various neurological conditions.
neurodevelopmental disordersII-spectrincerebellumneuronal cytoskeletonsynaptic transmissionbehavioral paradigmstransgenic mouse models
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the molecular mechanisms disrupted by II-spectrin deficiencies in cerebellar neurons.
AIM 02Characterize the impact of SPTBN1 variants on neuronal function and behavior.
AIM 03Assess the role of II-spectrin in synaptic transmission within cerebellar granule cells.
AIM 04Explore the connections between cerebellar function and neurodevelopmental syndromes.
AIM 05Utilize novel transgenic mouse models to study the clinical relevance of SPTBN1 mutations.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemolecular imagingWestern blotelectrophysiologybehavioral testingsuper-resolution microscopytransgenic mouse techniquesproteomics
Output against the department
Publications50bottom 12% of dept.909th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.4kbottom 8% of dept.946th 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.