ChangHui Pak

Dr. ChangHui Pak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on understanding synapse development and dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders, leveraging human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models and brain organoids. He completed his PhD at Emory University School of Medicine and postdoctoral training at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Key research areas include: 1) Signaling mechanisms in neurodevelopment, 2) Functional analysis of pathogenic variants in neuropsychiatric disorders, and 3) Development of improved human iPSC-based tools. His lab employs interdisciplinary approaches combining gene editing, patient-derived iPSCs, omics technologies, and electrophysiology.

Notable contributions include pioneering studies on NRXN1 mutations in schizophrenia and developing novel methods for patterning brain organoids using chemical gradients. Collaborations span biochemistry, neurobiology, genetics, and engineering disciplines. His work has been published in high-impact journals like Nature Communications, Cell Reports Methods, and Molecular Psychiatry.

Dr. Pak advises multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with active grants focusing on synaptic dysfunction mechanisms. The Pak Lab maintains an active website detailing ongoing projects and opportunities. Future directions emphasize scalable organoid platforms and translational applications of disease modeling.