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Stewart A. Anderson, MD
Director of Research, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Services
Dr. Anderson’s research interests focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the development of the mammalian forebrain. In his research on the development of the cerebral cortex, he is particularly interested in understanding the molecular underpinnings behind the fate determination and axon targeting of subclasses of GABAergic interneurons implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia.
Bio
Dr. Anderson serves as director of research in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Services and associate director of the Lifespan Brain Institute, a CHOP-Penn collaboration dedicated to identifying the neuropathological antecedents of neuropsychiatric disease.
He has a longstanding interest in the interface between basic science and clinical research, and his research has involved the development of the cerebral cortex and schizophrenia.
Dr. Anderson's current research involves the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the development of the mammalian forebrain. Using mouse genetics, forebrain slice and dissociated culture techniques, as well as mouse and human embryonic stem cells in cell culture and transplantation experiments, he and his lab team study the development of the cerebral cortex. They are particularly interested in understanding the molecular underpinnings behind the fate determination and axon targeting of subclasses of GABAergic interneurons implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia.
New research directions by Dr. Anderson and his lab include the study of mitochondria in interneuron migration, maturation, and function. In addition, they are generating mouse and human stem cell-derived interneurons for use in cell-based therapies for seizures, psychotic disorders, and as tools for the study of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in neuropsychiatric disease.
Education and Training
BA, Amherst College (Neuroscience), 1984
MD, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 1989
Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco (Neurogenetics), 1998
Titles and Academic Titles
Director of Research, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Services
Associate Director, The Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Co-Leader, Developmental Biology Research Affinity Group
Professor of Psychiatry
Professional Memberships
Society for Neuroscience, 1993-
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD), 2009-
Professional Awards
Freedman Award, National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD), 1999
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Travel Award, 1999
Future Leaders in Psychiatry Award, Emory University, 2002
National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders Young Investigator Award, 2002
Freedman Award, NARSAD, honorable mention, 2006
Publication Highlights
PubMed:
Li J, Ryan SK, Deboer E, Cook K, Fitzgerald S, Lachman HM, Wallace DG, Goldberg EM, Anderson SA. Mitochondrial deficits in human iPSC-derived neurons from patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and schizophrenia. Translational Psychiatry. 2019 Nov; 9(1):302. PMC6861238
Guo Y, Singh L, Gur RE, Anderson SA, Alvarez JI. Association of a Functional Claudin-5 Variant with Schizophrenia in Female Patients with the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Schizophrenia Research. 2019 Oct; In Press
Ryan SK, Gonzalez MV, Garifallou JP, Bennett FC, Williams KS, Sotuyo NP, Mironets E, Cook K, Hakonarson H, Anderson SA*, Jordan-Sciutto KL*. Neuroinflammation and EIF2 signaling persist despite antiretroviral treatment in an HiPSC tri-culture model of HIV infection. Stem Cell Research . 2019 Sep; (*co-corresponding authors). In Press
Fitzgerald ML, Anderson SA. Casting a (Perineuronal) Net: Connecting Early Life Stress to Neuropathological Changes and Enhanced Anxiety in Adults. Biological Psychiatry. 2019 Jun; 85(12):981-982
Donegan JJ, Tyson JA, Branch SY, Beckstead MJ, Anderson SA, Lodge DJ. Stem cell-derived interneuron transplants as a treatment for schizophrenia: preclinical validation in a rodent model. Mol Psychiatry. 2017 Oct; 22(10):1492-1501. PMID: 27480492