Heather Broihier

Heather Broihier is a Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. She serves as Director of the Neurosciences PhD Program and Deputy Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. Her research focuses on understanding how neural circuits form and remodel during development, with particular emphasis on synaptic organization and critical period plasticity using Drosophila and mammalian models. Key areas of study include neuron-glia interactions, innate immune signaling in circuit refinement, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders like autism-spectrum disorders.

Her work combines CRISPR-based genome engineering, high-resolution imaging, and behavioral assays to explore topics such as α2δ proteins’ roles in synaptogenesis, Crimpy’s dual functions in TGFβ and IGF signaling, and the role of FoxO in neuronal plasticity. The Broihier Lab investigates how disruptions in these processes lead to neurological diseases, contributing to translational research in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions.

Recent publications highlight discoveries in glial-mediated synaptic pruning during critical periods, autocrine BMP signaling in synapse organization, and the interplay between immune signaling and developmental plasticity. Her research has been published in high-impact journals including Developmental Cell, Nature Communications, and PLOS Genetics.

Broihier’s contributions to academic leadership include shaping interdisciplinary training programs and mentoring students through the Neurosciences PhD Program. Her lab collaborates extensively, working with institutions like the Tabuchi and Philippidou labs on projects involving circadian behavior and mammalian motor neuron development.