Focus Areas in the Genomic Medicine Cycle
Major leadership positions
Co-Director, MGH-Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence
Co-Chair, Tourette Syndrome Association International Consortium for Genetics
Director, Tic Disorders Unit, Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology
Co-Director, TS Center of Excellence
Overview
Genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and related disorders.
The Scharf lab investigates the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and related developmental neuropsychiatric disorders that lie at the interface between traditional concepts of neurologic and psychiatric disease, including obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders (OCD/OCSD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We conduct genetic and clinical research to identify both genetic and non-genetic risk factors that contribute to the predisposition of TS, ADHD, and OCD in patients and families. We hope to identify novel targets for treatment, to understand the course of TS and related conditions at a patient-specific level, and to better predict treatment response.
Priority Projects
- What are the specific genes that predispose individuals to develop Tourette Syndrome and related developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, and how do they work together to cause disease?
- How can we use susceptibility genes for TS and related disorders to identify the specific cell types, neural circuits and critical neurodevelopmental periods involved in disease pathogenesis?
- What are the clinical and genetic predictors of co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorders, tic severity and tic persistence in adulthood?
Lab Members
| Name: | Email: | Role: |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Osiecki | LOSIECKI@mgh.harvard.edu | Database Manager |
| Evan Realbuto, BA | EREALBUTO@mgh.harvard.edu | Clinical Research Coordinator II |
| Dongmei Yu, M.S. | DYU2@mgh.harvard.edu | Data Analyst |
| Laura Domenech, Ph.D. | LDOMENECHSALGADO@mgh.harvard.edu | Post-Doctoral Research Fellow |
| Marisela Dy-Hollins, MD, MS | MDYHOLLINS@MGH.HARVARD.EDU | Clinical Director of the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program |
| Danaira Moradel | DMORADEL@mgh.harvard.edu | Administrator Assistant |
Lab/Contact Telephone
Clinic: 617-724-6400
Lab: 617-724-0994
The Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) comprises one of the largest and most vibrant hubs of genomic medicine research in the world. The CGM includes 46 faculty collaborating to define the ‘genomic medicine cycle’ – which envisages a genomics community seeking to advance research from basic genomics research to ultimately using genome information for diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. All of our investigators are faculty at Harvard Medical School, and many members of our community are also investigators at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
