Dr. Katie Cording

Katie is a postdoctoral scholar in the Neuroscience department at University of California, Berkeley whose research focuses on mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorder. Her current research project in Dr. Helen Bateup’s lab focuses on SYNGAP1, a rare monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder with a range of comorbidities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her work focuses on the way that SYNGAP1 mutations may alter the function of the basal ganglia, a region involved in motor control, given the restricted, repetitive motor behaviors that are a hallmark of ASD. Katie’s doctoral thesis work, also in Dr. Bateup’s lab, had a similar focus on the impact of ASD risk gene mutation to basal ganglia function, in the context of two other rare disorder genes, CNTNAP2 and TSC1. Katie is committed to continuing to work towards better understanding and treatment of rare neurodevelopmental disorders, which is what brought her to an intern role at the CSKN2A1 Foundation. In this role, she will work on medical case report summaries, grant applications, and data analysis projects for the foundation. In the future, Katie hopes to transition into a career at non-profits like the CSKN2A1 Foundation that work to advance treatment, therapies and support for those impacted by rare disorders. Outside of research, Katie loves to bake cakes, go to the movies, and play competitively in a local Skeeball league.