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Michael P Hart, PhD
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Assistant Professor of Genetics
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Department: Genetics
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Clinical Research Building
18 Office: CRB 452A
14 Lab: CRB 450
36 415 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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18 Office: CRB 452A
14 Lab: CRB 450
36 415 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Publications
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Education:
21 9 B.s. 19 (Neuroscience) c
30 St. Lawrence University, 2006.
21 a Ph.D. 19 (Neuroscience) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 2012.
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Permanent link21 9 B.s. 19 (Neuroscience) c
30 St. Lawrence University, 2006.
21 a Ph.D. 19 (Neuroscience) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 2012.
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23f To understand how genes regulate behaviors by defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which genes impact the development, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits. This includes, a) how neuronal circuits are wired through synaptic connections between neurons, b) how synaptic connections within circuits are modified, and c) how these modifications impact behavior. A major focus is to understand the basic circuit associated functions of genes associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia.
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1c Research Techniques:
26f Using C. elegans as a primary model system for testing and comparing the impact of genes on neurons, synapses, circuits, and behavior. C. elegans is a powerful model for gene discovery, variant testing, and screening for modifiers (both genetic and small molecule) of gene function. We are able to define the role of even single gene isoforms in single neurons to regulate behavioral changes, a level of resolution not possible in any other organism. Ongoing work is testing for conservation of some of our most important findings across evolution in other Caenorhabditis species, Drosophila, mice, and human iPSCs.
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12 Key words:
121 Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Developmental Neuroscience, autism, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, neurobiology of stress, synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and circuit formation, circuit plasticity
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Description of Research Expertise
24 Research Interests:23f To understand how genes regulate behaviors by defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which genes impact the development, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits. This includes, a) how neuronal circuits are wired through synaptic connections between neurons, b) how synaptic connections within circuits are modified, and c) how these modifications impact behavior. A major focus is to understand the basic circuit associated functions of genes associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia.
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1c Research Techniques:
26f Using C. elegans as a primary model system for testing and comparing the impact of genes on neurons, synapses, circuits, and behavior. C. elegans is a powerful model for gene discovery, variant testing, and screening for modifiers (both genetic and small molecule) of gene function. We are able to define the role of even single gene isoforms in single neurons to regulate behavioral changes, a level of resolution not possible in any other organism. Ongoing work is testing for conservation of some of our most important findings across evolution in other Caenorhabditis species, Drosophila, mice, and human iPSCs.
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12 Key words:
121 Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Developmental Neuroscience, autism, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, neurobiology of stress, synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and circuit formation, circuit plasticity
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102 Haskell D, Palo J, Eugene RFH, Large CRL, Hart MP: Variation in Social Feeding Behaviors and Interactions Among Caenorhabditis Nematodes. Ecology and Evolution 15(11)(e72522), Nov 2025.
70 Brandon L Bastien, William R Haury, William R Smisko, Michael P Hart a9 : nlr-1/CNTNAP regulates dopamine circuit structure and foraging behaviors in C. elegans Communications Biology 7(1)(1248), October 2024.
101 Cowen MH, Haskell D, Zoga K, Reddy KC, Chalasani SH, Hart MP.: Conserved autism-associated genes tune social feeding behavior in C. elegans. Nature Commmunications 15(1), October 2024.
df Cowen MC, Raizen DM, Hart MP: Structural neuroplasticity after sleep loss modifies behavior and requires neurexin and neuroligin. iScience March 2024.
e7 Bastien BL, Cowen MH, Hart MP: Distinct neurexin isoforms cooperate to initiate and maintain foraging activity. Translational Psychiatry 13(1): 367, Nov 2023.
12e Govek KW, Nicodemus P, Lin Y, Crawford J, Saturnino AB, Cui H, Zoga K, Hart MP, Camara PG.: CAJAL enables analysis and integration of single-cell morphological data using metric geometry. Nature Communications 14: 3672, Jun 2023.
105 Michael P. Hart: Stress-Induced Neuron Remodeling Reveals Differential Interplay Between Neurexin and Environmental Factors in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 213(4): 1415-1430, Dec 2019.
153 Doldur-Balli F, Imamura T, Veatch OJ, Gong NN, Lim DC, Hart MP, Abel T, Kayser MS, Brodkin ES, Pack AI.: Synaptic dysfunction connects autism spectrum disorder and sleep disturbances: A perspective from studies in model organisms. Sleep Med Rev 62: 101595, Apr 2022.
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Selected Publications
12f Zoga K, Villiere S, Tikiyani V, Edwards-Cintron AF, Thokachichu P, Nicodemus P, Camara PG, Hart MP. : Multiple autism genes influence GABA neuron remodeling via distinct developmental trajectories. Genetics(iyaf156), August 2025.102 Haskell D, Palo J, Eugene RFH, Large CRL, Hart MP: Variation in Social Feeding Behaviors and Interactions Among Caenorhabditis Nematodes. Ecology and Evolution 15(11)(e72522), Nov 2025.
70 Brandon L Bastien, William R Haury, William R Smisko, Michael P Hart a9 : nlr-1/CNTNAP regulates dopamine circuit structure and foraging behaviors in C. elegans Communications Biology 7(1)(1248), October 2024.
101 Cowen MH, Haskell D, Zoga K, Reddy KC, Chalasani SH, Hart MP.: Conserved autism-associated genes tune social feeding behavior in C. elegans. Nature Commmunications 15(1), October 2024.
df Cowen MC, Raizen DM, Hart MP: Structural neuroplasticity after sleep loss modifies behavior and requires neurexin and neuroligin. iScience March 2024.
e7 Bastien BL, Cowen MH, Hart MP: Distinct neurexin isoforms cooperate to initiate and maintain foraging activity. Translational Psychiatry 13(1): 367, Nov 2023.
12e Govek KW, Nicodemus P, Lin Y, Crawford J, Saturnino AB, Cui H, Zoga K, Hart MP, Camara PG.: CAJAL enables analysis and integration of single-cell morphological data using metric geometry. Nature Communications 14: 3672, Jun 2023.
105 Michael P. Hart: Stress-Induced Neuron Remodeling Reveals Differential Interplay Between Neurexin and Environmental Factors in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 213(4): 1415-1430, Dec 2019.
153 Doldur-Balli F, Imamura T, Veatch OJ, Gong NN, Lim DC, Hart MP, Abel T, Kayser MS, Brodkin ES, Pack AI.: Synaptic dysfunction connects autism spectrum disorder and sleep disturbances: A perspective from studies in model organisms. Sleep Med Rev 62: 101595, Apr 2022.
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