Michela Fagiolini received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Michael Stryker in the Department of Physiology at the University of California. After her post-doc, Fagiolini joined the Laboratory for Neuronal Circuit Development at the Brain Science Institute in Japan. She is now an associate professor at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Fagiolini’s research combines molecular, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques in mouse model systems to address mechanisms underlying experience-dependent neural development “critical periods”, and how these mechanisms may be altered in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and Rett syndrome. In particular, Fagiolini’s laboratory is focused on the development of new strategies to restore cortical function and critical period timing by targeting excitatory/inhibitory circuits as a possible therapeutic intervention.