Our research is focused on addressing fundamental aspects of the biology of human neurons in the context of physiological conditions and in the context of disease. We have two clinical interests, motor neuron disease and epileptic channelopathies. We utilize patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming methods to generate different neuronal subtypes implicated in these diseases. We then study these cells by a combination of genomic approaches and functional physiological assays. Our hope is that these disease model systems will help us identify points of effective and targeted therapeutic intervention.