PhD Degree Granted to Pia Boxy in the Nykjær Lab
Friday 25 October, PhD-student Pia Boxy successfully defended her research project titled "New insights into the role of SorCS2 in cerebellar function and its implications for neurodevelopmental disorders".
Through the last three years, Pia Boxy has studied Autism Spectrum Disorder and its association with the sortilin receptor family member, SORCS2.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), characterized by disrupted social interactions and repetitive behaviors, that affects approximately 1% of children worldwide. While the exact causes remain uncertain, ASD is often linked to abnormal neural circuit function and cerebellar abnormalities.
Specifically Pia Boxy has investigated the role of SORCS2, a gene associated with ASD and other NDDs, in cerebellar development and circuit formation. This research highlights the cerebellum's role in higher-order cognitive functioning and provides valuable insights for future studies on cerebellar dysfunction in ASD and similar disorders.
The defense took place on Friday 25 October and was assessed by:
- External opponent: Professor Ioannis Charalampopoulos, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Crete, Greece
- External opponent: Professor Wilma Friedman, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University USA
- Chairman: Associate Professor Heidi Kaastrup Müller, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark