Research Focus

The major focus of my research is to identify and characterize susceptibility genes and environmental factors underlying causes of brain dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. The emphasis is on investigating the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways contributing to potential defects that cause abnormal brain development and lead to autism. The multidisciplinary research program in my laboratory integrates genetics, molecular and cellular neurobiology approaches to study the link between the causative biological factors and behaviour. To study protein cellular function and expression, we use in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, including neuronal and non-neuronal mammalian cell cultures and mice. We use a variety of qualitative and quantitative molecular techniques, including: cDNA subcloning, cell transfection, northern and Western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunochemistry, immunoprecipitation, cell imaging, real-time PCR, and RNA interference.

Publications

Wong CT, Bestard-Lorigados I, Crawford DA. Autism-related behaviors in the cyclooxygenase-2-deficient mouse model. Genes Brain Behavior. 2018 Jul 20.
Rai-Bhogal R., Wong. C., Kissoondoyal A, Davidson J., Li H., Crawford D.A. Maternal exposure to prostaglandin E2 modifies expression of wnt genes in mouse brain – an autism connection. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports 2018 Apr 10;14:43-53.

Rai-Bhogal R., Ahmad E., Li H., and Crawford DA. Microarray analysis of gene expression in the cyclooxygenase knockout mice - a connection to Autism Spectrum Disorder. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2018 Mar;47(6):750-766.

Wong. C., Ussyshikin N., Ahmad E., Rai-Bhogal R., Li H., and Crawford DA. Prostaglandin E2 promotes neural proliferation, differentiation and regulates Wnt-target gene expression. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2016 Aug;94(8):759-75

Davidson JM, Wong CT, Li H, and Crawford D.A. Prostaglandin E2 facilitates subcellular translocation of the EP4 receptor in neuroectodermal NE-4C stem cells. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports. 2016 Jun 2;7:173-179

Davidson J, Wong CT, Rai-Bhogal R, Li H, and Crawford D.A. Prostaglandin E2 elevates calcium in differentiated neuroectodermal stem cells. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 2016 Jul;74:71-7

Wong CT, Weiss J, and Crawford DA. Prenatal exposure to common environmental factors affects brain lipids and increases risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorders. European Journal of Neuroscience 2015 Nov;42(10):2742-60

Sin C. Li H. and Crawford D.A. "Transcriptional Regulation by FOXP1, FOXP2 and FOXP4 Dimerization" Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. 2015 Feb;55(2):437-48
Wong CT, Ahmad E, Li H, and Crawford D.A. Prostaglandin E2 alters Wnt-dependent migration and proliferation in neuroectodermal stem cells: implications for autism spectrum disorders. Cell Communication and Signalling. 2014 Mar 23;12:19.

Sub-Disciplines

Genetics, Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodevelopment

Research Areas