Michael P Hart, PhD
Assistant Professor of Genetics
Principle Investigator, Autism Program of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Genetics
Member, Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine
Department: Genetics
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Clinical Research Building
Office: CRB 452A
Lab: CRB 450
415 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: CRB 452A
Lab: CRB 450
415 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education:
B.s. (Neuroscience)
St. Lawrence University, 2006.
Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
University of Pennsylvania, 2012.
Permanent linkB.s. (Neuroscience)
St. Lawrence University, 2006.
Ph.D. (Neuroscience)
University of Pennsylvania, 2012.
Description of Research Expertise
Research Interests:Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal circuit formation and plasticity, including, 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. Also to understand the circuit associated functions of genes associated with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia.
Research Techniques:
Using C. elegans as a primary model system for testing the impact of genes on neurons, synapses, circuits, and behavior. C. elegans serves as a powerful model for gene discovery, variant testing, and screening for modifiers (both genetic and small molecule).
Key words:
Genetics, Cell and Molecular Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Disease, Developmental Neuroscience, schizophrenia, autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, Neurobiology of stress, Synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and circuit formation, circuit plasticity
Selected Publications
Brandon L Bastien, William R Haury, William R Smisko, Michael P Hart : nlr-1/CNTNAP regulates dopamine circuit structure and foraging behaviors in C. elegans Communications Biology 7(1)(1248), October 2024.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.
Muirhead CS, Reddy KC, Guerra S, Rieger M, Hart MP, Srinivasan J, Chalasani SH. : Neurexin drives C. elegans avoidance behavior independently of its post-synaptic binding partner Neuroligin G3 May 2024.
Cowen MC, Raizen DM, Hart MP: Structural neuroplasticity after sleep loss modifies behavior and requires neurexin and neuroligin. iScience January 2024.
Bastien BL, Cowen MH, Hart MP: Distinct neurexin isoforms cooperate to initiate and maintain foraging activity. Translational Psychiatry 13(1): 367, Nov 2023.
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. Nat Commun 14: 3672, Jun 2023.
Haskell D, Cowen M, Hart M: Functional and behavioral impacts of human NRXN1 variants identified through expression in C. elegans neurons. International C. elegans Conference. Genetics Society of America,(737A), 2023 Notes: poster presentation.
Cowen MH, Reddy K, Chalasani S, Hart MP: Glutamate and nrx-1 dependent synaptic changes in an aversive sensory neuron are required for npr-1 aggregation behavior International C. elegans Conference. Genetics Society of America,(954C), 2023 Notes: poster presentation.
Villiere SM, Zoga K, Hart MP: Investigating roles for axon guidance and regeneration genes in GABAergic plasticity in C. elegans International C. elegans Conference. Genetics Society of America,(882B), 2023 Notes: poster presentation.
Haury W, Kalik R, Bastien BL, Hart MP : C. elegans behavioral screen identifies nrx-1 allele-specific small molecule modifiers. International C. elegans Conference. Genetics Society of America,(781A), 2023 Notes: poster presentation.