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Meet the Team Behind the Project

Gal Lazarus, Israel
(Coordinator)
Dr. Lazarus studies personalized dynamic models in mood and anxiety disorders. He is an expert in intensive longitudinal research methods and data analysis. His lab will employ these methods to study neurodevelopmental disorders in daily life. Following the diagnosis of his son with ARID1B‑RD he founded the Foundation for ARID1B-Research and designed a clinical trial readiness strategy for the disorder.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2022 to present | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Inc. | Assistant professor |
2022 to present | KU Leuven | Postdoctoral fellow |
2020–2022 | University of California, Berkeley | Postdoctoral fellow |
2013–2020 | Bar-Ilan University | Ph.D. in clinical psychology |
2010–2013 | Tel-Aviv University | BSc in psychology |
Philippe Campeau, Canada
(Partner)
Dr. Campeau is a medical geneticist with clinical expertise in skeletal dysplasias and neurodevelopmental disorders. He directs a research lab whose goal is to identify and characterize neurodevelopmental disorders. They perform deep phenotyping of patients, characterize the consequences in cells lines and then move on to study mouse models to better understand disease pathophysiology and eventually explore potential therapies.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2018 to present | CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Associate professor, Department of Pediatrics |
2013–2018 | CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics |
2008–2013 | Baylor College of Medicine, TX, USA | Postdoctoral fellowship |
2003–2008 | McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada | Medical genetics residency |
1998–2003 | Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada | MD studies |
Sarah Lippé, Canada
(Collaborator)
Full professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Montreal.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2020 to present | University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Full professor, Psychology Department |
2020 to present | University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Director Ph.D RI Clinical Neuropsychology Program |
2017–2021 | CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Deputy, Brain and Child Development research axis |
2014 to present | University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Associate professor, Psychology |
2013–2016 | University of Montreal, QC, Canada | Director Ph.D clinical/research neuropsychology program |
2004– | Ordre des Psychologues du Québec | Clinical psychologist |
Dagmar Wieczorek, Germany
(Partner)
Dr. Wieczorek has long standing experience in identification of new genes and signaling pathways related to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), autism, syndromal entities especially craniofacial malformations. She has over 10 years’ experience in the use of Next Generation Sequencing for the detection of causative genetic variations. She hosts large patient cohorts for the study of NDD.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2020 to present | Heinrich Heine University, Germany, Medical Faculty, Institute of Human Genetics | Speaker of the Zentrum für Seltene Erkrankungen, UKD, Düsseldorf, Germany |
2018 to present | Heinrich Heine University, Germany, Medical Faculty, Institute of Human Genetics | Local speaker Düsseldorf, West German Genome Center (WGGC) |
2017 to present | ![]() | |
2015 to present | Heinrich Heine University, Germany, Medical Faculty, Institute of Human Genetics | Full professor (W3), head of Institute of Human Genetics |
2006–2015 | University Clinic Essen, Germany, Institute of Human Genetics (head: B. Horsthemke) | Senior physician |
2000–2005 | University Clinic Essen, Germany, Institute of Human Genetics (head: B. Horsthemke) | Scientific assistant |
2005 | University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, Institute of Human Genetics | Postdoctoral thesis (“Habilitation”) |
1994 | Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany | MD-thesis (supervisor: M. Tegenthoff) |
1987–1993 | Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany | Study of medicine |
Eva Meisenzahl, Germany
(Collaborator)
Full Professor of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2021 to present | Heinrich Heine University, Germany, Medical Faculty, Dept. Psychiatry & Psychotherapy | Coordinator CARE Computer-assisted risk evaluation in early recognition of psychosis, (care-network.eu) |
2021 to present | President ESAS European Scientific Association on Schizophrenia and other Psychoses Vice President, ESAS European Scientific Association on Schizophrenia and other Psychoses | |
2016 to present | Heinrich Heine University, Germany, Medical Faculty, Dept. Psychiatry & Psychotherapy | Full professor (W3), director |
2010–2016 | LMU Munich, Germany, Medical Faculty | Full professor (C3) |
Ioulia Ziavrou, Germany
(Collaborator)
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy specialist, LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Germany.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2025 to present | LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Germany | Psychiatry and Psychotherapy specialist, Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic |
2024–2025 | LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Germany | Neurology residency |
2021–2024 | LVR Klinikum Düsseldorf, Germany | Psychiatry residency |
2018–2021 | LWL Klinikum Marl-Sinsen, Germany | Child and adolescent Psychiatry residency |
2016–2018 | Salus Fachklinikum Bernburg, Germany | Child and adolescent Psychiatry residency |
2015–2016 | Ameos Klinikum Haldensleben, Germany | Neurology residency |
2008–2015 | University of Ioannina, Greece | Study of medicine |
Peter Krawitz, Germany
(Partner)
Dr. Krawitz’ research focus lies on next-generation phenotyping (NGP), dysmorphic pattern recognition in rare diseases, whole genome data analysis for complex mutational signatures, and inherited GPI-anchor deficiencies.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2017 to present | Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics, University of Bonn | Director |
2009–2017 | Department for Medical Genetics, Charité University Medicine | Postdoc, resident |
2001–2008 | Technical University Munich | Medical studies |
2001–2008 | Ludwig Maximilians University | Physics |
Gaetano Cantalupo, Italy
(Partner)
Dr. Cantalupo is a specialist in Neurology and in Child Neuropsychiatry. He deals with neurological diseases of childhood, with main interest in Epilepsies, Sleep Disorders, and Movement Disorders, particularly in genetic disorders. Furthermore, he is involved clinical and experimental neurophysiology, with expertise in computer-aided analysis of EEG signal.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2019 to present | University of Verona, Italy | Associate professor (child neuropsychiatry) |
2013 to present | Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Integrated University-Hospital of Verona, Italy | Staff physician |
2011–2019 | University of Verona, Italy | Assistant professor (child neuropsychiatry) |
2008–2013 | University of Parma | Residency program in child neuropsychiatry |
2002–2007 | University of Bologna | Residency program in neurology |
1994–2002 | University of Bologna | Degree in medicine and surgery |
Kristiina Tammimies, Sweden
(Partner)
Dr. Tammimies’ research aims at understanding the genetic and molecular architecture of NDDs, and how these are related to symptoms, severity and intervention outcomes. The research group employs prediction modelling, integrating genetic and clinical data, to examine the effects of genetic background to better understand patient subgroups such as rare disorders within NDDs and health care needs.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2021 to present | Karolinska Institutet | Docent (associate professor) |
2017–2020 | Karolinska Insitutet | Assistant professor |
2016 to present | Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Insitutet, Sweden | Deputy director |
2015 | Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Insitutet, Sweden | Returning postdoc |
2012–2014 | The Hospital for Sick Children, Univ. of Toronto, Canada | International postdoc fellow |
2007–2011 | Karolinska Institutet | Ph.D. in medical sciences |
2002–2007 | University of Oulu | MSc in genetics, biochemistry and statistics |
Vincent des Portes, France
(Partner)
In 1998, Dr. des Portes identified the gene DCX, responsible for X-Linked Lissencephaly (des Portes et al., Cell 1998) and contributed to the identification of several genes involved in X-Linked Intellectual Disabilities. Since 2002, he has been working on genetic syndromes with ID: (i) Therapeutic trials in Fragile X; (ii) Clinical characterization of several genetic syndromes with ID; (iii) follow-up of children with cerebral malformations (inc. ARID1B‑RD).
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2017 to present | National Network For Rare Diseases of Neurodevelopment, DefiScience | Co-founder and head of the National Network |
2004 to present | School of medicine Lyon Sud Charles Merieux, University of Lyon, France | Professor of pediatrics |
2002 to present | HFME, University Hospital, Lyon, France | Founder and head of the Department of Child Neurology |
2001–2002 | MIND Institute, UC Davis, California | Research fellow |
1998–2001 | Department of Child Neurology, St Vincent de Paul Hosp, APHP, Paris | Clinical fellowship |
1995–1998 | INSERM, Cochin University, Paris. Mentor Pr J Chelly. Lab directed by Pr Axel Kahn | PhD in neurosciences |
1989–1994 | School of Medicine, Pitié Salpétrière, University of Paris, France | Internship in pediatrics. MD, child neurologist |
Yasemin Alanay, Turkey
(Partner)
Dr. Alanay’s research aims at deep-phenotyping, dysmorphic pattern recognition integrating genetic and clinical data, in diverse populations and health care needs. She has over 10 years’ experience in the use of Next Generation Sequencing for the detection of causative genetic variations. She has a cohort of over 200 patients with diagnostic WGS data deep phenotyped by a single physician.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2013 to present | Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Graduate School Of Health Sciences, Department Of Genomic Studies | Professor, division head |
2011–2013 | Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, School of Medicine, Department Of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Genetics | Associate professor |
2008–2011 | Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Department Of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Genetics | Associate professor |
2004–2009 | Hacettepe University, Graduate School Of Health Sciences | Ph.D. in medical genetics |
2002–2004 | Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Department Of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Genetics | Clinical fellowship |
1997–2002 | Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Department Of Pediatrics | Residency |
1990–1996 | Hacettepe University, School of Medicine | M.D., medical doctor |
Amanda Seidl, USA
(Collaborator)
Dr. Seidl’s lab uses a variety of infant-friendly testing paradigms and daylong recording technologies to explore how typically-developing infants and those at-risk for atypical speech and language outcomes learn to process and produce speech in a language-specific way. This is a crucial endeavor since measures of infant production and perception of speech predict language outcomes which relate to later academic and social outcomes.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2015 to present | Purdue University | Full professor |
2009–2014 | Purdue University | Associate professor |
2003–2008 | Purdue University | Assistant professor |
2000–2003 | The Johns Hopkins University | Postdoctoral fellow |
2000 | University of Pennsylvania | PhD conferred |
Audrey Thurm, USA
(Partner)
Dr. Thurm is a child clinical psychologist with clinical and research expertise in genetic conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders. She directs a clinical research service with a goal of characterizing the developmental phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders and developing measures to be used to track change over time. They perform deep phenotyping in natural history and clinical trials to better understand trajectories over time and test novel treatments.
Dates | Institution | Function |
---|---|---|
2016 to present | National Institute of Mental Health (Intramural), Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Director, Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service |
2005–2016 | National Institute of Mental Health (Intramural), Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Staff scientist |
2002–2005 | National Institute of Mental Health (Extramural), Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Program officer |
2001–2002 | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions/Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA | Postdoctoral fellowship |