We research neural connectivity in autism spectrum disorders and are working on an understanding of structural changes in neural connectivity in mice mutant for high confidence autism genes. We focus our analyses on the medial prefrontal and somatosensory cortex, regions believed to function as hubs to integrate neural circuits controlling social behaviour. We specifically study the development of circuits in these areas from early postnatal times to adult mice which enables us to detect transient defects in neural circuit development. To understand the defects on a molecular level, we investigate the hypothesis that critical circuits are disrupted due to a disturbance of microglia function and/or neuronal autophagy.

Please see my Research Staff Profile for more detail

Find out more about my research:

MRC - Uwe Drescher

CDN - Uwe Drescher

Key publications:

• Ingham et al., 2017. On the role of ephrinA2 in auditory function. Hearing Research.
• Suetterlin et al., 2014. Target-independent ephrina/EphA-mediated axon-axon repulsion as a novel element in retinocollicular mapping. Neuron.
• Rashid et al., 2005. Opposing gradients of ephrin-As and EphA7 in the superior colliculus are essential for topographic mapping in the mammalian visual system. Neuron,
• Drescher et al., 1995. In vitro guidance of retinal ganglion cell axons by RAGS, a 25 kDa tectal protein related to ligands for Eph receptor tyrosine kinases. Cell.

View all publications

Key collaborators:

• Dr Michael Reber Krembil Research Institute, Toronto
• Prof Robert Hindges, CDN, KCL
• Prof Matthias Gautel, Randall Institute, KCL
• Franko Weth, KIT, Karlsruhe Germany