Xander Nuttle

Xander Nuttle is an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Michigan's Medical School. His research focuses on uncovering genotype-phenotype relationships in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) through genomic analysis, CRISPR-based mutational modeling, and cerebral organoid systems. He leads efforts to identify genetic bases for uniquely human traits while innovating experimental tools for the field.

• Education: PhD from University of Washington; BS/BSE/Certificate from Duke University
• Laboratory Affiliation: Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

His research integrates computational approaches with wet-lab experiments to study how genetic variations contribute to brain disorders. Recent work has advanced CRISPR-based parallel mutagenesis platforms and elucidated molecular mechanisms underlying 16p11.2 disorders. He also investigates human-specific genes like NOTCH2NL and SRGAP2 variants that shape cortical development.

Notable contributions include pioneering studies on the evolutionary origins of human-specific genes and their roles in neurodevelopment. His work bridges basic science with translational applications, aiming to inform precision medicine strategies for neurological conditions.

Grants and mentorship: Actively mentors trainees and leads NIH-funded research projects. Laboratory focuses on developing scalable genomic tools and applying them to understudied aspects of human genetic diversity.