Nael Nadif Kasri, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre

SFARI Investigator, SFARI Scientific Review Board Website

Nael Nadif Kasri is head of the Molecular Neurophysiology group at the Radboud University Medical Center and part of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. His group investigates the molecular underpinnings of development and functioning of the nervous system. The group aims to reveal novel neurobiological concepts by resolving the genetic and epigenetic networks that are disrupted in cognitive conditions, including intellectual disabilities (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

‘Disease’ genes are used as a starting point to resolve the role of the corresponding proteins in the normal and diseased brain, using a multilevel strategy that combines functional genomics and molecular and cellular neurobiological approaches. This includes the generation and characterization of in vitro (primary neurons from rodents and human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived neural cells) as well as in vivo (mouse) models. By doing so, Kasri has identified the mechanism behind several ID/ASD-linked genes, providing new insight into key hub signaling pathways affected in these disorders as well as mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. Finally, Kasri’s laboratory aims to integrate fundamental neurobiological research with clinical applications and personalized medicine, such as drug screens. His expertise in generating neural lineages from individuals with disorders and performing recordings at single cell and network levels is setting the stage in this novel research field.

Funded Projects

A human stem cell-based neuronal network platform for functional validation of autism-linked variants

Awarded: 2021
Award Type: Targeted: Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Genetic Therapies

Building phenotypic maps based on neuronal activity and transcriptional profiles in human cell models of syndromic forms of ASD

Awarded: 2019
Award Type: Pilot

SFARI Funded Publications

ANK2 loss-of-function variants are associated with epilepsy, and lead to impaired axon initial segment plasticity and hyperactive network activity in hiPSC-derived neuronal networks. Teunissen M.A., Lewerissa E., van Hugte E.J.H., Wang S., Ockeloen C.W., Koolen D.A., Pfundt R., Marcelis C.LM., Brilstra E., Howe J.L., Scherer S. W., Le Guillou X., Bilan F., Primiano M., Roohi J., Piton A., de Saint Martin A., Baer S., Seiffert S., Platzer K., Jamra R.A., Syrbe S., Doering J.H., Lakhani S., Nangia S., Gilssen C., Vermeulen R.J., Rouhl R.P.W., Brunner H.G., Willemsen M.H., Kasri N. N.

Rapid specification of human pluripotent stem cells to functional astrocytes. Lendemeijer B., Unkel M., Mossink B., Hijazi S., Sampedro S.G., Shpak G., Slump D.E., van den Hout M.C.G.N., van IJcken W.F.J., Bindels E.M.J., Hoogendijk W.J.G., Kasri N. N., de Vrij F.M.S., Kushner S.A.

Loss-of-function variants in the schizophrenia risk gene SETD1A alter neuronal network activity in human neurons through cAMP/PKA pathway. Wang S., van Rhijn J.R., Akkouh I., Kogo N., Maas N., Bleeck A., Ortiz I.S., Lewerissa E., Wu K.M., Schoenmaker C., Djurovic S., van Bokhoven H., Kleefstra T., Kasri N. N., Schubert D.