Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience

Edwin H. Cook, Jr., M.D., Director, Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience, Professor of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry

The Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience is dedicated to studying the developmental neurobiological basis of pediatric onset neuropsychiatric disorders. We use neurochemical and molecular genetic research tools to develop new knowledge that may lead to improvement in clinical pharmacology. We began as a neurochemistry lab studying the relationship between hyperserotonemia and autistic disorder. We are now working with collaborators on molecular genetic and clinical pharmacological studies of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, childhood onset obsessive-compulsive disorder, stuttering, adolescent depression, and pediatric and early onset bipolar mood disorder.

Laboratory protocols

UIC Research Resources Center

NCBI Genome Browser Gateway (UCSC) Hap Map Project 1000 Genomes Project Browser

Genetic projects in the Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience:

SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) submitted to dbSNP (handle: LDN)

For genes below without active links, enter locus link gene symbol[GENE] AND LDN[HANDLE] at the following link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=snp

e.g. GABRB3[GENE] AND LDN[HANDLE]
- Serotonin
  - Serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4)
  - Serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor (HTR2A)
- 15q11-q13
  - UBE3A
  - ATP10C
  - GABRB3
  - GABRA5
  - GABRG3
- AVPR1A
- Methyl-CpG-Binding Domain Proteins (MBD1, MBD2, MBD4)

Autism
- Reviews
- Candidate gene studies
  - 15q11-q13 studies (including GABRB3, ATP10C, and UBE3A and molecular cytogenetic studies)
  - Ataxin 2 binding protein 1 (A2BP1)
- Genome-wide scans
- Rett syndrome and autism

ADHD
- Review article: Cook, E.H. Genetics of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 1999,5:191-198
- Dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3)
OCD
- Genome-wide scan: Hanna et al.: Genome-wide linkage analysis of families with obsessive-compulsive disorder ascertained through pediatric probands. American Journal of Medical Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics) 2002,114:541-552
- Veenstra-VanderWeele et al. Genomic organization of the SLC1A1/EAAC1 gene and mutation screening in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder. Molecular Psychiatry. 2001,6:160-167
- Dickel et al. Association testing of the positional and functional candidate gene SLC1A1/EAAC1 in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry 2006,63:778-785
Prepubertal and early onset bipolar mood disorder
- Candidate gene approach with Barbara Geller, M.D. at Washington University
  - Geller B et al.: Linkage disequilibrium of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism in children with a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype. Am J Psychiatry 2004,161:1698-700
  - Geller, B., Cook, E.H..: Genetic transmission of serotonin transporter alleles in prepubertal and early adolescent bipolarity. Biological Psychiatry. 1999,45:1230-1233
  - Geller, B., Cook, E.H.: Ultradian rapid cycling in prepubertal and early adolescent bipolarity is not in transmission disequilibrium with Val/Met COMT Alleles Biological Psychiatry. 2000,47:605-609
Stuttering
- Genetic Basis of Stuttering Project with Nancy Cox, Ph.D. at the University of Chicago; Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. and Nicoline Ambrose, Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Suresh R et al.: New complexities in the genetics of stuttering: significant sex-specific linkage signals. American Journal of Human Genetics 2006,78:554-563
Molecular Genetic Technology Development
- Gonen, D., Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., Yang, Z., Leventhal, B.L., Cook, E.H.: High throughput fluorescent CE-SSCP SNP genotyping. Molecular Psychiatry. 1999,4:339-343
- Multiplex PCR conditions for the ABI Linkage Mapping Set v.1 on the 310 Genetic Analyzer
  - Veenstra-VanderWeele et al.: Coupling of optimized multiplex PCR and automated capillary electrophoresis for efficient genome-wide searches. Elsevier Trends Journals Technical Tips Online 1998, T01391
Pharmacogenetics
- Stein et al: Dopamine transporter genotype predicts methylphenidate dose-response in children with ADHD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2005,30:1374-1382.
- Veenstra-VanderWeele, J., Anderson, G.M., Cook, E.H.: Pharmacogenetics and the serotonin system: initial studies and future directions. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2000,410:165-181
- PAAR (Pharmacogenetics Anticancer Agents Research) Group

Neurochemical studies of autism

Cook et al.: Platelet serotonin studies in familial hyperserotonemia of autism. Life Sciences 1993,52:2005-2015

Review article re: serotonin and autism

Cook and Leventhal: The serotonin system in autism. Current Opinion in Pediatrics 1996,8:348-354

Clinical Pharmacology Research

Autism

Cook et al.: Fluoxetine treatment of borderline mentally retarded adults with obsessive compulsive disorder. J Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1990, 10:228 229.

Cook et al.: Fluoxetine treatment of children and adults with autism and mental retardation. J AmAcad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 1992, 31:739-745.

Jaselskis et al.: Clonidine treatment of hyperactive and impulsive children with autistic disorder. J Clinical Psychopharmacology 1992, 12:322-327.

Leventhal et al.: Fenfluramine: Clinical and neurochemical effects in children with autism. J Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 1993, 5:307-315.

Owley et al. A multi-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine secretin in autism. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 2001,40:1293-1299

King et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of amantidine hydrochloride in the treatment of children with autistic disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 2001,40:658-665

Owley et al.: An open-label trial of escitalopram in pervasive developmental disorders. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 2005,44:343-348

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

March et al.: Sertraline in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled study. JAMA 1998, 280:1752-1756

Cook et al.: Long-term sertraline treatment of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 2001, 40:1175-1181

The Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience is or has been supported by:: The Irving B. Harris Foundation; Jean Young and Walden W. Shaw Foundation; The Daniel X. & Mary Freedman Foundation for Academic Psychiatry; Brain Research Foundation; The Simons Foundation; Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (M.I.N.D. Institute); Autism Speaks; The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI); The National Institutes of Health (NIH); International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)

Related Links

University of Illinois at Chicago

Department of Psychiatry
- Brain Body Center
- Center for Cognitive Medicine

Partial List of Collaborating Autism Research Laboratory Web Sites

Autism Research Foundations

Autism Speaks

Autism Genetics Web Sites

Autism Clinical Resources

IDEAS (Isodicentric chromosome 15) link

Genetics Resources

Laboratory Address:

Kathy Hennessy/Ed Cook Lab
University of Illinois at Chicago
MBRB Building #919 Rm. #4364
900 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60607
312-996-1113

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Last updated: 10/26/13