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Xiao Headshot

Xinshu (Grace) Xiao, Ph.D.

Faculty Member

Professor
Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology
College of Letters and Sciences
University of California, Los Angeles


Personal Statement

My laboratory investigates RNA-based gene regulation in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as cancer. We employ an integrated approach that combines molecular and cellular biology with high-throughput genomics and computational analysis. Our work focuses on RNA editing, double-stranded RNA biology, alternative splicing, and mRNA stability, using both experimental (wet-lab) and computational (dry-lab) strategies. We generate and analyze large-scale RNA-seq, CLIP-seq, and other omics datasets, and use human stem cells and iPSC-derived models to study post-transcriptional regulation in physiologically relevant systems. To support these efforts, we have developed computational tools for identifying RNA editing sites, predicting functional genetic variants, and analyzing CLIP-seq data, among others, enabling the interpretation of both public and in-house datasets. We also perform in-depth molecular studies to follow up on genomic and computational discoveries, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation in both disease and normal physiology.

Martinez headshot

Julian A. Martinez, M.D., Ph.D., FACMG

Faculty Member

Associate Professor
Department of Human Genetics
David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles


Personal Statement

Julian A. Martinez is a medical geneticist and developmental biologist who has served at the UCLA School of Medicine since he joined the Department of Human Genetics in 2007. Dr. Martinez earned his B.S. in Biology and Spanish Literature at Yale University and pursued his medical training at Yale School of Medicine. He went on to train as a Pediatrician at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA. Dr. Martinez was Chief Resident of the UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Program, where he trained as and currently serves as a board-certified Medical Geneticist. He was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Utpal Banerjee at UCLA, where he worked on genetic approaches to stem progenitor function in Drosophila. Dr. Martinez is a recipient of the Pediatrics Department Outstanding Research Award, as well as the David W. Smith Pediatric Trainee Research Award of the Western Society for Pediatric Research, among other honors. Dr. Martinez is a member of the Division of Medical Genetics, where he has maintained a clinical interest in genetic syndromes that lead to overgrowth, vascular malformations, and cancer predisposition. As an Associate Professor with tenure at the University of California Los Angeles, his laboratory research focuses on novel growth regulatory pathways in progenitor and stem cell maintenance and the study of human growth disorders with cancer predisposition. His approach utilizes model organisms and rare human genetic disorders to identify new genes and characterize signaling pathways regulating tissue growth, with a translational focus on identifying the genetic basis of rare genetic syndromes that predispose to cancer and neurodevelopmental phenotypes. His laboratory has described novel syndromes, extended the phenotypic findings for established ones, and identified their genetic basis. Using next generation sequencing technologies and modeling of human disease-associated genetic variants in Drosophila, cancer cell lines and human neural stem cells, he dissects the mechanistic basis for these genetic disorders. Dr Martinez is one of the Principal Investigators of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network site at UCLA, Co-Director of the California Center for Rare Diseases, Director of the T32 Medical Genetics Training Program, and Co-Director of the Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Program.

Reavis Photo

Eric Reavis, Ph.D.

Faculty Member

Assistant Professor in Residence
Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
David Geffen School of Medicine
University of California, Los Angeles

 

Research Interests

My research seeks to understand alterations in perception, cognition, and social information processing that are found in schizophrenia and related conditions. In my work, I use methods such as functional and structural MRI, EEG, eye-tracking, performance-based behavioral assessments, as well as other tools adapted from cognitive neuroscience

 

Coley headshot

Austin Coley, Ph.D.

Faculty Member

Biography

The Coley laboratory investigates neural populations and dynamics associated with depressive-like behaviors. We apply integrative approaches such as in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging to measure neural activity and population dynamics, and ex vivo electrophysiology to record synaptic properties. We utilize optogenetics techniques to selectively activate neural circuits and assess the response within specific neurons. We also use computer-based tracking systems to monitor behavioral tasks and apply machine learning methods to uncover the relationship between neural activity and behavior. Additionally, we use computational models to further understand neuronal population function in higher-order processing regions.

Publications

Coley, A.A. +, Batra, K., Delahanty, J.M., Keyes, L.R., Pamintuan, R., Ramot, A., Hagemann, J., Lee, C.R., Liu, V., Adivikolanu, H., Cressy, J., Jia, C., Massa, F., LeDuke., D., Gabir, M., Durubeh, B., Linderhof, L., Patel, R., Wichmann, R., Li, H., Fischer, K.B., Pereira, T, Tye, K.M. (2024) BioRxiv. doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.18.629202

Li, H*, Namburi, P*, Olson, J.M.*, Borio, M, Lemieux, M.E., Beyeler, A, Calhoon, G.G., Hitora-Imamura, N, Coley, A.A., Libster, A, Bal, A, Jin, X, Wang, H, Jia, C, Choudhury, S.R., Shi, X, Felix-Ortiz, A.C., De la Fuente, V, Barth, V.P., King, H.O., Izadmehr, E.M., Revanna, J.S., Batra K., Fischer, K.B., Keyes, L.R., Padilla-Coreano, N, Siciliano, C.A., McCullough, K.M., Wichmann, R, Ressler, K.J., Fiete, I.R., Zhang, F, Li, Y, Tye, K.M (2022). Neurotensin orchestrates valence assignment in the amygdala. Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-04964-y

Coley, A.A.*, Padilla-Coreano, N*, Patel, R*, Tye, K.M (2021). Valence processing in the PFC: reconciling circuit-level and systems-level views. International Review of Neurobiology. doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2020.12.002

McEachern, E.P.*, Coley, A.A.*, Yang, S.S., Gao W.J. (2020). “PSD-95 alters GABAergic inhibition in the medial prefrontal cortex.” Neuropharmacology. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108277

Coley, A. A. and W.-J. Gao (2019). “PSD-95 deficiency disrupts PFC-associated function and behavior during neurodevelopment.” Scientific Reports 9(1): 9486. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45971-w; PMCID: PMC6602948

Hill, S.A.*, Blaeser A.*, Coley, A.A., Xie Y., Shepard K.A., Harwell C., Gao W.J., Garcia A.D.R (2019). Sonic hedgehog signaling in astrocytes mediates cell-type-specific synaptic organization. eLife 8: e45545. doi: 10.7554/eLife.45545; PMCID: PMC6629371

Coley, A. A. and W.-J. Gao (2018). “PSD-95: A synaptic protein implicated in schizophrenia or autism?” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 82: 187-194. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.11.016; PMCID: PMC5801047

Yang, S.S., Li Y.C., Coley, A.A., Chamberlain L.A., Yu P., Gao W.J. (2018). Cell-type specific development of the hyperpolarization-activated current, Ih, in prefrontal cortical neurons. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience 10(7): doi:10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00007; PMCID: PMC5958189

Monaco, S.A.*, Coley, A.A.*, Gao W.J (2016). The Convergence of Glutamate and GABA Dysregulation in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Treatment: The New Facets. Ed. Yu-Chih Shen. Book Chapter: 1. PMCID not applicable.

Coley, A.A, Ruffin, V.A, Moss, F., Hopfer, U., Boron, W.F. (2013). Immunocytochemical identification of electroneutral Na+-coupled HCO3– transporters in freshly dissociated mouse medullary raphé neurons. Neuroscience. 246:451-67. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.02.064

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