Brian O’Roak

Associate professor of molecular and medical genetics
Oregon Health and Science University

Brian O’Roak uses genomic approaches to unlock the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability.

From this contributor

Figures along the top of a cliff, reaching for the papers falling from the sky and circulating in the air currents.
Spectrum

How I learned to stop worrying and love preprints

By Brian O’Roak
22 May 2018 | 7 min read
Spectrum Microphone

Burning debate: What’s the best way to nab real autism genes?

By Brian O’Roak
27 June 2017 | 9 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Monkeys at Dutch primate center.
Animal models

Dutch primate center awaits October animal research debate

Science is forging ahead at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands, following a reversal of last year’s mandate to phase out primate studies. But researchers aren’t sure how long the reprieve will last.

By Lauren Schenkman
2 September 2026 | 5 min read
By clicking to watch this video, you agree to our privacy policy.
Brain Inspired Microphone

When we sleep, our brain is filled with spontaneous neural activity. What is it doing?

Daniel Levenstein explains how internally generated brain activity during sleep shapes our cognition, and why NeuroAI is such a powerful approach to understanding the brain.

By Paul Middlebrooks
2 September 2026 | 96 min listen
Research image of organoids.
Spectrum

Unconfounding genetic and environmental factors, and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 31 August.

By Jill Adams
1 September 2026 | 2 min read