Helen Bateup

Helen Bateup is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Molecular Therapeutics. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal excitability and synaptic modulation, particularly in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and epilepsy. Using mouse models and human brain organoids, her lab investigates how genetic mutations in mTOR pathway regulators (TSC1/TSC2) impact neural development and circuit function.

• Education:
• Postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School with Bernardo Sabatini
• PhD at Rockefeller University under Paul Greengard
• Undergraduate research with Douglas Granger at Penn State

Research Interests span neurogenetics, synaptic plasticity, and neural circuit dysfunction. Her work bridges molecular biology and behavioral neuroscience, emphasizing the role of mTOR signaling in maintaining neuronal balance and its disruption in diseases. Recent projects include basal ganglia dysfunction in autism, human neuron models of TSC, and astrocyte contributions to epilepsy.

Publications highlight her expertise in mTOR pathway analysis, neurodevelopmental modeling, and synaptic regulation, with key contributions to disease mechanisms in autism and epilepsy. Her lab employs multi-omics, electrophysiology, and behavioral assays to dissect these processes.

• Scientific Awards:
  • UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award

Students and Collaborators include MCB and Neuroscience graduate researchers and alumni who have transitioned to roles at institutions like Harvard, UCSF, and the Allen Brain Institute. Her lab is funded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CIRM, and private foundations.