Guest Editors
Brigitta Bonaldo
Department of Biosciences, University of Milano
Dr. Brigitta Bonaldo completed her undergraduate studies in neurobiology at the University of Turin, where she earned her PhD in Neuroscience under the mentorship of Professor Giancarlo Panzica. Her PhD work evaluated the effects of oral exposure to bisphenols A or S on the brain and behavior during critical periods of development. In October 2023, she started a postdoc fellowship in the lab of Dr. Stefano Espinoza at the University of Piemonte Orientale in collaboration with the University of Trento and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) of Genoa. The main aim of her current project is to provide proof-of-concept for developing a novel RNA-based therapy for autism spectrum disorders. Recently, she has joined the lab of Professor Graziella Cappelletti at the University of Milan as a tenure-track researcher.
Ilaria Balbo
Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Dr. Ilaria Balbo earned her degree in medical biotechnology from the University of Turin in 2017 and began researching Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38 (SCA38) in Professor Filippo Tempia’s laboratory. She validated the SCA38 mouse model before pursuing a PhD in neuroscience at the same laboratory, where she further explored the model and investigated the pathological mechanisms underlying the disease. In September 2022, she joined Dr. Sheng-Han Kuo’s laboratory at Columbia University in New York as a postdoctoral researcher. Her current work focuses on translational studies to identify common circuit alterations across various types of cerebellar ataxias, with the goal of developing circuit-based therapeutic approaches.
Collection Overview
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are complex and highly heterogeneous conditions with a wide range of causes, risk factors, and symptoms. Research has consistently shown that functional or anatomical abnormalities in the cerebellum are among the most common findings across genetic studies, animal models, post-mortem examinations, and neuroimaging studies. As a result, recent decades have highlighted the cerebellum’s significance in various cognitive functions, including language comprehension and speech, social skills, visuospatial processing, and memory.
Despite these advancements, many investigations are still needed to clarify how the cerebellum, particularly the cerebro-cerebellar circuits, is modified in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. Studying these intricate dynamics requires diverse and complementary methodologies. Such approaches may reveal previously unknown physiological functions and connections of the cerebellum, which is primarily responsible for motor control and coordination.
In this Methods Collection, we aim to gather innovative approaches and models to explore the central role of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on cerebellar functions beyond those involved in motor control. Together, these articles will provide an overview of the techniques and models that will enhance our understanding of the complex dynamics associated with these disorders.
