Neville picture I am currently a postdoctoral scientist in the laboratory of Feng Zhang at the Broad Institute and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. I recently finished my PhD at MIT with Sebastian Seung and I completed my undergraduate education at Stanford University.

My scientific interests include genome engineering, the behaviors of growing axons, and the regulation of RNA editing in neurons.

projects

genome engineering toolbox

transcription activator-like effector nuclease and transcription factor diagrams We are now able to sequence entire genomes easily and cheaply. But what about our ability to write DNA? How can we make targeted changes to genomes? Genome engineering has immense potential to transform genomics, bioengineering, and medicine. Currently, I use modular programmable DNA binding proteins to test the causal role of putative genetic disease variants in human cells and to rescue animal models of disease in vivo. My goal is to expand the available tools for genome engineering while applying these technologies to understand and treat neurological diseases. For more information, please visit TALEffectors.com.

activity-dependent RNA editing in neurons

chromatogram example There is a growing number of newly identified A-to-I RNA editing sites in the genome. We are currently screening all known coding, non-synonymous editing sites in the rat genome to see how neural activity can influence RNA editing.

long-term time-lapse imaging of growing cortical axons

time-lapse cultured neurons What can the movements of axon growth cones tell us about how nervous systems are wired up? Applying stochastic modeling techniques to time-series of growth cone positions, we find that axons have distinct stereotyped behaviors during early outgrowth. Our goal is to use these models of "cellular behavior" to discover the underlying biophysical mechanisms in the axon growth cone. On the experimental side, we have developed an integrated software-hardware platform and primary neuron prep for long-term (weeks) unattended time-lapse microscopy of genetically labeled axons and dendrites in culture.

microfluidics for diffusable growth factor gradients

microfluidic mixer for diffusible gradient How can we create target-derived, diffusible (vs. substrate-bound, see inkjet project below) chemotropic signals to neurons in vitro? We developed a simple microfluidic system to use for time-lapse imaging of axon outgrowth from rat dorsal root ganglia neurons. The microfluidic chamber was designed to produce a linear gradient of a neurotrophic factor for guiding growing axons.

inkjet-based substrate micropatterning

ink-jet patterning of text MIT in neurons For precise micropatterning of substrate-bound neural adhesion and guidance molecules, we developed a custom inkjet printer and flexible surface chemistry. We have created viable, healthy cultures of primary hippocampal neurons and glia that adhere to specific patterns for weeks in vitro. An example of a patterned culture is shown in the image to the left: Each letter contains an isolated micronetwork of tens of neurons.