Neurosciences Seminar - Matthew Anderson, MD, PhD

Neurosciences Seminar
Thursday, February 12, 2026
12 PM, BRB 105

Matthew Anderson, MD, PhD
Professor, Pathology, Co-Director of The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (‘OHC’),
Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University

Host: Dr. Richard Zigmond

Lecture Title: "Dissecting behavioral circuits (social and anti-social) using human autism genetics"

Abstract: One of the most common penetrant genetic forms of autism spectrum disorder arises from triplication of maternally-derived 15q11-13. Within this genomic region, UBE3A is the only gene expressed solely from the maternal allele in mature neurons and this triples the dosage of this gene in the genetic form of autism. We showed that increases of UBE3A gene dosage are sufficient to impair social behaviors, increase repetitive self-grooming, and impair glutamatergic synapses (Smith et al. Sci Transl Med 2011). We have gone on to map the subcellular compartment, molecular pathways, and brain circuitries underlying the defect in prosocial and elevation of anti-social behaviors. The studies revealed convergent mechanisms across multiple genetic forms of autism spectrum disorder. In separate studies that won't be discussed, we have identified the function of a novel gene duplicated in ultrarare autism spectrum disorder that regulates a wide array of neurodevelopmental disease genes through mechanisms unique to the human-species with implications for human brain evolution. We have also uncovered evidence for an adaptive immune mechanism involving CD8 T-cells in sporadic forms of autism spectrum disorder and in obesity.

Publication: Krishnan, V., Stoppel, D. C., Nong, Y., Johnson, M. A., Nadler, M. J. S., Ozkaynak, E., Teng, B. L., Nagakura, I., Mohammad, F., Silva, M. A., Peterson, S., Cruz, T. J., Kasper, E. M., Arnaout, R., & Anderson, M. P. (2017). Autism gene Ube3a and seizures impair sociability by repressing VTA Cbln1. Nature, 543(7646), 507–512. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21678


Seminar Format
• Introduction by the host
• Presentation (approx. 45-50 min.)
Questions during the presentation are at the individual speaker’s discretion.
• 10-15 minutes of Q&A
We encourage students to ask the first questions.


Attendee Information
Free and open to the public. Seminars are not recorded.
Livestream will be available via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person.

Event updates and Zoom links are distributed through the Neurosciences seminar email list. Subscribe to our weekly announcements. https://case.edu/medicine/neurosciences/news-events/seminars-events

Questions - Neurosciences@case.edu

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