Brett S. Abrahams

Biography

Brett Abrahams, PhD (born March 3, 1973) is a geneticist and neuroscientist involved in the identification and subsequent functional characterization of the autism-related gene CNTNAP2 with Dan Geschwind at UCLA.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Publications in scientific journals including Cell,[7] Nature,[8] New England Journal of Medicine,[4] together with reviews in Nature Reviews Genetics [9] and the textbook Human Genetics: Problems & Approaches,[10] have been cited by others over 2000 times.[11] Work Dr. Abrahams has contributed to has also made the Autism Speaks “Top Ten Research Advances" list in each of 2008,[2][3] 2009,[8] 2010,[12] and 2011.[7] These and other discoveries have received attention from international media outlets including: ABC News, BBC News, The National Post, Reuters, The Telegraph, Time Magazine, and US News and World Report. Abrahams is an Assistant Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Research Interest

The Abrahams lab works to understand the "whys" and "hows" in the Autism Spectrum Disorders and to use these insights to achieve better patient outcomes. We have identified DNA variants that increase risk for disease and discovered how some of these impact brain structure and function. Ongoing work is poised to take these insights back to the clinic and improve quality of life for patients and families.