The Qian Lab studies human cerebral cortex development and disease using brain organoids, spatial omics, and genetics to uncover mechanisms of normal development and neurodevelopmental disorders, with the goal of enabling human-specific therapeutic insights.
Congratulations to Phoebe Zhang, an undergraduate researcher in the Qian Lab, on receiving the 2026 First-year Summer Research Award from …
Congratulations to Matt, whose summer research in the Qian Lab will be supported by Penn’s Grant for Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate …
We had a wonderful day at the Lurie Autism Institute Symposium at CHOP, featuring exciting science, inspiring talks, and engaging …
The Qian Lab investigates the development and disorders of the human cerebral cortex, the brain’s most evolutionarily advanced and disease-vulnerable region. To overcome the limitations of traditional models, the lab integrates human-based approaches, including brain organoid models, spatial omics technologies, and human genetics, to uncover the cellular and molecular programs that shape cortical development.
Through this work, the Qian Lab aims to decode the mechanisms of neuronal subtype specification and to uncover how these processes go awry in disorders such as malformations of cortical development (MCD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Ultimately, the lab seeks to lay a foundation for therapeutic strategies grounded in human biology.
