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Peter
B. Crino, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept of Neurology
3 West Gates Bldg. 3400 Spruce St.
Lab: 247 Clinical Research Building
215-898-0178 Lab: 215-898-0179
email: crinop@mail.med.upenn.edu
(http://neurology.med.upenn.edu/~crino/)
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Crino's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Cortical maldevelopment as it relates to epilepsy, mental retardation, and autism; The Tuberous Sclerosis Complex; Brain tumorsRESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Molecular biology; mRNA amplification from single human neurons, immunohistochemistry, cortical slice culturesRESEARCH SUMMARY
My laboratory is interested in understanding how aberrant development of the cerebral cortex contributes to pervasive neurological disorders such as epilepsy, mental retardation, and autism. Specifically, we are studying the molecular pathogenesis of cortical dyslamination in a variety of syndromes associated with these disorders including focal cortical dysplasia, heterotopias, tuberous sclerosis, and hemimegalencephaly. Our lab approach includes amplification of mRNA from single immunohistochemically labeled neurons in human brain specimens. We are able to determine the differential expression of numerous genes in a subset of phenotypically defined cells.
By quantifying the relative abundances of developmentally relevant genes, we hope to identify cellular pathways which, when disrupted, lead to abmormal layer formaton in the cerebral cortex. Finally, we study the cellular mechanisms that modulate proliferation of brain neoplasms such as primitive neuroectodermal tumors, gliomas, and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas in tuberous sclerosis.
KEY WORDS:
Development, cortical dysplasias, epilepsy, brain tumors
