Jacy Wagnon, PhD
Assistant Professor
Neuroscience
Academic contact
Academic information
- Department: Neuroscience
Research interests
- Epilepsy
- Genetics
- Sodium Channels
- Gene Expression
- MicroRNA
About
Biography
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are a genetically heterogeneous group of neurological disorders characterized by early-onset seizures along with cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. The Wagnon laboratory is interested in understanding genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying DEE and identifying new treatment strategies for these severe disorders. Our current studies focus on DEE caused by variants in the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN8A. We are developing mouse models of SCN8A encephalopathy to study pathogenesis of seizures and related comorbidities. A second focus of the lab is to investigate the role of regulation of gene expression in seizure pathology. Changes in mRNA and microRNA levels represent a general transcriptional response to seizures that may implicate new therapeutic targets.
Credentials
Education
- Postdoctoral Training
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Postdoctoral Training
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
- PhD - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
Research
Research interests
- Epilepsy
- Genetics
- Sodium Channels
- Gene Expression
- MicroRNA
Research Approaches
The Wagnon laboratory utilizes a variety of mouse models of SCN8A encephalopathy and other DEEs to investigate seizure pathology and study the relationship between seizures and cognitive, motor, and behavioral comorbidities. We also employ molecular techniques, including RNA-seq, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry to study regulation of gene expression in DEE.