Dr Caroline Ross

Research Interests

My research investigates gene regulatory circuits in the developing brain, with a focus on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as central modulators of neuronal differentiation and function. The mammalian brain expresses the most diverse repertoire of lncRNAs, many of which show spatial and temporal specificity during neurogenesis. Our aim is to decode the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate target genes critical for proper neuronal identity and function. A key objective is to understand how dysregulation of these lncRNA-driven networks contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders, and to explore the potential of targeting these molecules and their pathways using RNA-based therapies. 

A growing body of evidence shows that a significant subset of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs)—more than 65 to date—arise from heterozygous mutations in genes encoding chromatin remodelers (CRs). Despite being broadly expressed, CRs such as CHD2 are uniquely dosage-sensitive in the brain, with loss-of-function (LOF) or overexpression leading to profound developmental and neurological dysfunction. My research aims to define how CRs regulate chromatin architecture and transcriptional dynamics during neuronal differentiation, and how their dysregulation contributes to NDD pathogenesis. This work falls within the Neuroscience Institute’s conceptual domain of “Brain development across the lifespan”, with direct relevance to the scientific priority area of “Genetic variation and vulnerability”.

Research Areas

Clinical Neuroscience • Developmental Neuroscience • Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience • Computational Neuroscience • Neurogenetics