cells – ASF Weekly Science Podcasts

Episodes

1. 10

   The newest most advanced way to study gene x environment interactions

   This week we talk to Dr. Dan Geschwind from UCLA who was funded by the Autism Data Science Initiative to study thousands of environmental chemicals and medicines across various genetic backgrounds. A decade ago, this study would have taken a decade, but through new technology, robotics, and...

   Oct 4, 2026

   42m
2. 9

   Microglia as a target for new interventions

   There is a cell in the brain called the microglia which has been traditionally overlooked as a target for therapies. New research supported by ASF and @FraxAresearch suggests that altering the function of microglia in the brain may help support the development of healthy and functional…

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   Apr 13, 2025

   36m
3. 8

   The Transcription Factor Song

   Very rarely are scientists able to look at single genes within the brains of people across neuropsychiatric disorders and understand how the genes in each of these cells influence expression of proteins and interactions of different cells with each other. Recently, a collaboration called...

   Jun 23, 2024

   20m
4. 7

   Little Brains Answer Big Questions

   This week we talk to Sergiu Pasca from Stanford University. He has revolutionized the field of understanding the field of brain development in neurodevelopmental disorders and just published a new study which examined the genetic influence of brain assembly. The way he does this is quite...

   Oct 14, 2023

   34m
5. 6

   Environmental factors as both causes and interventions?

   Environmental exposures, including toxic chemicals, can contribute to the causes of ASD. But how do other environmental factors, like behavioral supports, work in the brain to improve behaviors associated with ASD? For this, you need a broad interpretation of the term “environmental” and an…

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   Mar 13, 2022

   11m
6. 5

   Genes genes all in an order, the ones you have, the greater risk of disorder

   This week, a special focus on genetics: what type, where do they come from, what do these genes do and how do they influence risk of a wide array of psychiatric issues including autism. The results come from the largest study to date of people with autism as well as those with ADHD, bipolar...

   Jan 27, 2020

   16m
7. 4

   What sperm tells scientists about the origins of ASD

   Does autism begin at a diagnosis, or before a diagnosis? How early do genetics influence outcome? This podcast explores a new angle to this question using studies in sperm. One type of major ASD relevant mutation is de-novo mutations, meaning they are seen in the person with ASD but neither...

   Jan 5, 2020

   8m
8. 3

   Reusing and recycling autism data from brain tissue

   In a new study in animal models, researchers demonstrate how genetic variability in key risk genes leads to different brain development patterns. Studying the brains of people with autism is challenging, since there are fewer resources to study. However, scientists get creative and collaborative...

   Jun 24, 2018

   10m
9. 2

   Chromosome 15-apallooza

   One of areas of genetic interest of autism is a region of chromosome 15. Only about 3% of people with autism have the mutation, but 80% of those with the mutation have autism. It is so important that people with duplications of this area have formed their own advocacy group called the Dup15...

   Jul 31, 2017

   13m
10. 1

    Oops the media did it again…

    Last week CNN.com reported on a study that showed slight improvement of autism symptoms in children that received a single infusion of their own umbilical cord blood. While the study was interesting, the authors were the first to acknowledge the limitations, however, this did not stop the media...

    Apr 10, 2017