Boland Lab
Location and Contact Information
Principal Investigator
The Boland Lab applies an integrated developmental and functional approach to model neurological disorders using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), with a primary focus on epilepsy and monogenic autism spectrum disorders. Disease-causing gene variants identified by human genetics studies conducted at the Institute of Genomic Medicine (IGM) serve as the basis for model development within my group. Our hiPSC models and differentiation schemes are tailored to the gene being studied. We generate patient-derived hiPSC lines and use genomic editing via CRISPR/Cas9 to correct the mutation. Alternatively, a given pathogenic mutation will be edited into the genome of a validated, non-disease hiPSC line in order to match patient genotypes. Depending on the disease/mutation studied, we use monolayer and/or three-dimensional (organoid) neuronal differentiation of hiPSCs into clinically-relevant cell types coupled with morphological studies, and transcriptomic and gene network analyses to identify and understand genotype-specific developmental phenotypes. Additionally, we have developed and advanced the use of patch clamp electrophysiology and multielectrode arrays combined with optogenetic and pharmacological network modulation to understand the functional etiology of these disorders.
In collaboration with other investigators at the IGM, we study microcircuit and neural network behavior of cultured primary neurons and acute brain slices from genetic mouse models of epilepsy for preclinical drug design and development.
Additionally, we have developed and advanced the use of patch clamp electrophysiology and multielectrode arrays combined with optogenetic and pharmacological network modulation to understand the functional etiology of these disorders (see Axion CBW).
Projects
- Understanding brain region and neuronal subtype deficits in human stem cell and genetic mouse models of STXBP1 encephalopathy
- Development of genetic therapies for STXBP1 haploinsufficiency
Funding
- Columbia Precision Medicine Initiative
- Simon Foundation Autism Research Initiative, https://www.sfari.org/2020/07/27/sfari-2020-research-awardees-announced/
Lab Members
Damian Williams
- Associate Research Scientist
Damian has been studying neuronal function using electrophysiology and imaging techniques throughout his research career. For his doctorate in Tom Cunnane’s laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford, Damian studied neurotransmission in sympathetic neurons. Damian has used calcium imaging and electrophysiology to study neurotransmitter release at individual nerve terminal varicosities and nicotinic receptor-mediated modulation of sympathetic neurotransmitter release.
After his DPhil, Damian joined Stephen Ikeda’s lab at NIAAA in Bethesda, Maryland. During this postdoctoral training, Damian studied the mechanisms involved in voltage-gated calcium channel modulation. Damian also developed a method for high-efficiency heterologous proteins expression in adult primary neurons, and a method for rapid modification of proteins in live cells using an inducible protease system.
Damian continued his postdoctoral training in Amy MacDermott’s laboratory studying the physiological properties of stem cell-derived neurons. During this time and his position of managing the electrophysiology and calcium imaging section of the Columbia Stem Cell Core, Damian has gained extensive experience of stem cell-derived tissues. He has been central to projects which span across the field, including the characterization of stem cell lines, understanding the mechanisms of neuronal development and disease, and the development of drug screening platforms for ALS and neuromuscular disease.
Research Overview
The aim of Damian’s research is to understand functional changes in neurons that occur in epilepsy and intellectual disability. Using a variety of electrophysiological and image-based techniques, Damian can identify changes at molecular, individual neuron, and synaptic levels. This work is carried out with the Boland, Goldstein, and Frankel laboratories, using murine and stem cell-based models that harbor disease-causing genetic variants identified at the Institute of Genomic Medicine (IGM). Insight into the mechanism of changes to neuron function will provide novel drug targets to specific biological processes, which has the potential to improve treatment of previously intractable disease.
Select Publications
Shore AN, Colombo S, Tobin WF, Petri S, Cullen ER, Dominguez S, Bostick CD, Beaumont MA, Williams D, Khodagholy D, Yang M, Lutz CM, Peng Y, Gelinas JN, Goldstein DB, Boland MJ, Frankel WN, Weston MC. (2020) Reduced GABAergic neuron excitability, altered synaptic connectivity, and seizures in a KCNT1 gain-of-function mouse model of childhood epilepsy. Cell Reports. 33(4), 108303.
Amador A, Bostick CD, Olson H, Peters J, Camp CR, Krizay D, Chen W, Han W, Tang W, Kanber A, Kim S, Teoh J, Sah M, Petri S, Paek H, Kim A, Lutz CM, Yang M, Myers SJ, Bhattacharya S, Yuan H, Goldstein DB, Poduri A, Boland MJ, Traynelis SF, Frankel WN. (2020) Modelling and treating GRIN2A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy in mice. Brain, Volume 143, Issue 7, July 2020, Pages 2039–2057. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article-abstract/143/7/2039/5861741
Colombo S, Petri S, Shalomov B, Reddy HP, Tabak G, Dhindsa RS, Gelfman S, Teng S, Krizay D, Rafikian EE, Bera AK, Yang M, Boland MJ, Peng Y, Frankel WN, Dascal N, Goldstein DB. (2019) G protein-coupled potassium channels implicated in mouse and cellular models of GNB1 Encephalopathy. BioRXiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/697235
Gelfman S, Wang Q, McSweeney KM, Ren Z, La Carpia F, Halvorsen M, Schoch K, Ratzon F, Heinzen EL, Boland MJ, Petrovski S, Goldstein DB. (2017) Annotating pathogenic variants in non-coding regions. Nat. Commun. 8: 236-247 doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00141-2.
Boland MJ*, Nazor KL*,Tran HT, Szucs A, Lynch CL, Paredes R, Tassone F, Sanna PP, Hagerman RJ, Loring JF. (2017) Molecular analyses of neurogenic defects in a human pluripotent stem cell model of Fragile X Syndrome. Brain. 140(3):582-598 doi: 10.1093/brain/aww357. *these authors contributed equally.
McSweeney KM, Gussow AB, Bradrick SS, Dugger SA, Gelfman S, Wang Q, Petrovski S, Frankel WN, Boland MJ, Goldstein DG. (2016) Inhibition of microRNA-128 promotes excitability of cultured cortical neuronal networks. Genome Research.26:1411-1416
Hazen JL*, Faust G*, Rodriguez AR, Ferguson W, Shumilina S, Clark RA, Boland MJ, Martin G, Chubukov P, Tsunemoto RK, Torkamani A, Kupriyanov S, Hall IA, Baldwin KK. (2016) The complete genome sequences, unique mutational spectra and developmental potency of adult neurons revealed by cloning. Neuron. 89:1223-1236
Nazor KL, Boland MJ, Bibikova M, Klotzle B, Yu M, Glenn-Pratola VL, Schell JP, Coleman RL, Cabral-da-Silva MC, Schmidt U, Peterson SE, He C, Loring JF, Fan J-B. (2014) Application of a low-cost array-based technique - TAB-Array - for quantifying and mapping both 5mC and 5hmC at single-base resolution in human pluripotent stem cells. Genomics. 104: 358-367
Boland MJ, Nazor KL, Loring JF. (2014) Epigenetic regulation of pluripotency and differentiation. Circulation Res. 115:311-324.
Quinlan AR*, Boland MJ*, Leibowitz ML, Shumilina S, Pehrson SM, Baldwin KK, Hall IM. (2011) Paired-end DNA sequencing of mouse induced pluripotent stem cell genomes reveals rare mutations and retroelement stability. Cell Stem Cell. 9: 366-373 doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.07.018. *these authors contributed equally.
Boland MJ*, Hazen JL*, Nazor KL*, Rodriquez AR, Gifford W, Martin G, Kupriyanov S, Baldwin KK. (2009) Adult mice generated from induced pluripotent stem cells. Nature. 46: 91-96 *these authors contributed equally.
Boland MJ and Christman JK. (2008) Characterization of Dnmt3b:thymine-DNA glycosylase interaction and stimulation of thymine glycosylase-mediated repair by DNA methyltransferase(s) and RNA. J. Mol. Biol. 379(3): 492-504