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.
We are recruiting postdoctoral fellows to join the Qian Lab! Come help us uncover the cellular and molecular programs of human cortical development using brain organoids, single-cell genomics, and spatial transcriptomics.
Congratulations to Eleanor Mills, a PhD student in the lab, on receiving a Young Investigator Award from the ASXL Rare Research Endowment Foundation. The award recognizes research Eleanor conducted as an undergraduate in the laboratory of Dr. Stephanie Bielas at the University of Michigan. Her work contributed to efforts to better understand ASXL-related rare disorders and was highlighted at the Foundation’s recent research symposium, which brought together scientists, clinicians, families, and patient advocates from the global ASXL community.
We are delighted to share that Dareen has her poem “Rootbound” published in CHOP’s literary and arts magazine Diastole. In the lab, we know Dareen as a thoughtful, dedicated, and wonderful member. It is especially meaningful to see another side of her voice through this beautiful piece. “Rootbound” reflects on resilience, renewal, and the quiet strength of finding beauty after a difficult season. The full issue of Diastole is also a wonderful reminder of the many creative talents across the CHOP community, bringing together writing, visual art, and reflection from colleagues throughout the institution.
From Xuyu- I had a wonderful time attending the Cortical Evolution 2026 conference in Bilbao, Spain. It was a beautiful place for a meeting, and the conference brought together a fantastic community of scientists studying brain development, cortical organization, and evolution from many different perspectives. I was especially grateful for the opportunity to give a blitz talk and share some of the newest data from our lab on focal cortical dysplasia.
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.
