Dr. Heinzen directs an NIH-funded research program focused on the identification and functional characterization of genetic variants in epilepsy disorders. The lab uses a variety of cutting-edge approaches including next-generation short-read sequencing, long-read whole genome sequencing, single cell RNAseq, induced pluripotent stem cell derived neuronal models of genetic epilepsies, and multi-electrotrode array technologies to advance the research goals. The group is always interested in exploring new approaches to answering complex research questions to advance neurogenetics and identify novel treatment approaches for intractable seizures.
Research projects:
Identification of somatic mutations underlying malformations of cortical development
Identification of somatic mutations underlying non-lesional focal epilepsy
Development of novel methods to call somatic short-tandem repeat variants from next-generation sequence data
Modeling SLC35A2 epilepsy in hiPSC-derived neuronal models
The Heinzen Lab focuses on the genetic and genomic basis of epilepsy disorders, including analyses of the role of germline mutations, somatic mutations, and how regulation of the cellular transcriptome influences the risk and presentation of seizures.
A current area of concentration is studying the role of somatic mutations in epilepsy and other neurological diseases. Unlike inherited variation or newly acquired mutations in parental gametes that present in the germline of offspring, mutations can also be acquired somatically at some point in development after fertilization. The burden and localization of a somatically acquired mutation depends on when each mutation arises. There is accumulating evidence that new mutations can lead to disease, and in some cases, severe tissue-specific disease. Dr. Heinzen’s lab currently has active research projects seeking to identify disease-causing somatic mutations in patients with brain malformations and in patients who have drug-resistant non-lesional focal epilepsy. This research led to the identification of somatic SLC35A2 variants in intractable neocortical epilepsy. Building from this discovery, the group now also has a research program that uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to study effects of somatic SLC35A2 variants on neural development and activity and explore novel treatment approaches for this form of genetic epilepsy.
The Heinzen lab also studies the transcriptome in brain tissue of epilepsy patients to better understand how regulation at this level may cause or contribute to the presentation of epilepsy. Making use of therapeutically excised tissue specimens from patients with a range of refractory epilepsies, the lab uses a variety of experimental approaches to study the tissue and cellular transcriptome and subsequently relate transcriptional changes to pathological endpoints.
The Heinzen Lab focuses on the genetic and genomic basis of epilepsy disorders, including analyses of the role of germline mutations, somatic mutations, and how regulation of the cellular transcriptome influences the risk and presentation of seizures. In collaboration with a number of investigators in neurology, neuropathology, and neurosurgery, my group is to studies the role of somatic mutations in epilepsy and other neurological diseases.
Dr. Lai is a research assistant professor in the Heinzen Lab. She focuses on modeling SLC35A2 epilepsy in hiPSC-derived neuronal models.
Postdoctoral research associate position available: The Heinzen lab is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join our research team. Potential candidates are invited to email Erin Heinzen at erin-h@unc.edu if interested.
