Brian O’Roak uses genomic approaches to unlock the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability.
Brian O’Roak
Associate professor of molecular and medical genetics
Oregon Health and Science University
From this contributor
How I learned to stop worrying and love preprints
Preprints are gaining traction in biology, but some researchers have lingering concerns. Should they?
Burning debate: What’s the best way to nab real autism genes?
How to best use a large volume of data to discover new genetic risk factors for autism is a matter of intense debate, particularly in light of historical challenges.
Burning debate: What’s the best way to nab real autism genes?
By
Brian O’Roak
27 June 2017 | 9 min read
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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus is banking on whole-brain imaging in the Danionella fish to advance neuroscience, but some scientists forced to close their labs say that even with a three-year runway and transitional support, they feel betrayed by the pivot.
Exclusive: Janelia sunsets rodent work, launches transparent fish project
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus is banking on whole-brain imaging in the Danionella fish to advance neuroscience, but some scientists forced to close their labs say that even with a three-year runway and transitional support, they feel betrayed by the pivot.
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22 June 2026 | 5 min read
Transforming AI models into useful model organisms
These systems were not built to explain the brain. But treating them as model organisms that we can perturb and evolve will move us closer to that goal.
Transforming AI models into useful model organisms
These systems were not built to explain the brain. But treating them as model organisms that we can perturb and evolve will move us closer to that goal.
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Mariya Toneva
22 June 2026 | 6 min read
Cortical area remixes macaques’ knowledge blocks to solve new problems
When monkeys draw complex shapes, their neural activity reflects patterns of activation elicited by drawing simpler, component shapes.
Cortical area remixes macaques’ knowledge blocks to solve new problems
When monkeys draw complex shapes, their neural activity reflects patterns of activation elicited by drawing simpler, component shapes.
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Lauren Schenkman
19 June 2026 | 0 min watch