The Functional Biology Decision Unit aims to understand the mechanisms of biological systems, using the most appropriate models: stem cells, organoids, and model organisms to guide the development of solutions for intractable diseases. Connecting genomic information to brain development, plasticity in later life, and the irreversible loss of neurons in neurodegenerative diseases remain challenging problems in modern biology.

The DNA sequence of an individual is not just the blueprint of development, but also a program for the smooth functioning of complex machinery and a predictor of lifelong health and disease susceptibility. This group focuses on understanding neurodevelopment and making connections between genome variation, organization, and gene regulation underlying brain diseases, with an immediate focus on neurodevelopmental disorders.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are defined as a group of conditions that first manifest in children below the age of 5 years, but can persist into adulthood. Intellectual disability (ID), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are some of the prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders.

They often have overlapping symptoms, and genes falling into the same pathways are also implicated in multiple conditions. This decision unit addresses various aspects of epigenetics in neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing on factors such as histone modifications, histone modifiers, and non-coding RNA.