Professor Emanuel (Manny) DiCicco-Bloom
Professor Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, M.D. is Professor of Neuroscience & Cell Biology and Paediatrics (Child Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) in New Jersey and a member of graduate programs in Cell & Developmental Biology, Neuroscience and Toxicology at UMDNJ and Rutgers University. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, and trained in Paediatrics and Neurology at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Centre, joining RWJMS in 1990.
Professor DiCicco-Bloom’s research focuses on defining molecular pathways that regulate production of neuronal cells (neurogenesis) during brain development, and how related abnormalities contribute to developmental disorders including autism and schizophrenia. He investigates how neuropeptides, growth factors, microRNAs and environmental toxins impact cell cycle and survival mechanisms that control neurogenesis, studying neural precursor cells in culture and in developing embryos and newborns. Recent studies focus on roles of autism-associated gene, Engrailed 2, in cerebellar and forebrain development and function.
Professor DiCicco-Bloom has long served the autism community, providing scientific expertise to National Alliance for Autism Research; Autism Speak’s Inc Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Committee and current Scientific Advisory Board (SAB); the SAB of the Autism Science Foundation; and Executive Committee and Tissue Advisory Board of Autism Tissue Program. He was Chair of Scientific Program Committee of the 2008 IMFAR meeting and Co-Chair for 2010. He served on N.J. Governor’s Council on Autism Research; was Chair of N.J. Commission on Brain Injury Research; is on SAB of International Rett Syndrome Foundation; and Public Education and Communication Committee of Society for Neuroscience. He serves on editorial boards of Autism Research, Molecular Autism, and other developmental neuroscience journals.
