University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · PhysiologyThe Neurochemical Nexus
Mark J. Zylka · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Mark J. Zylka's research lab focuses on understanding the link between environmental chemicals and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. The lab employs advanced genome editing techniques to explore both the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to these conditions. They aim to identify harmful chemicals and develop innovative gene therapies to treat disorders like Angelman syndrome.
autismneurodevelopmental disordersgene therapyCRISPRenvironmental chemicalsAngelman syndromemolecular pathwaysgenome editingbioinformaticshigh-throughput screening
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify environmental chemicals that target pathways linked to neurodevelopmental disorders.
AIM 02Assess the effects of harmful chemicals on human neural progenitor cells and neurons.
AIM 03Develop a new genome editing technology to treat genetic disorders.
AIM 04Evaluate the impact of specific chemicals on mice models of autism.
AIM 05Create delivery systems for gene therapies targeting the brain.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR genome editingmolecular biology techniquescell cultureDNA sequencinghigh-throughput screeninggenetic engineeringanimal modelsbiological assaysenvironmental risk assessmentdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications179top 37% of dept.107th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations13ktop 23% of dept.66th of 286
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.