Altered Corticostriatal Development in SHANK3 Disorders: Beyond Synaptic Dysfunction
On November 6, 2026 our Meet the PI lecture series continues with a presentation by Rui Peixoto, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
After earning a PhD in Neuroscience from Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal, Dr. Peixoto conducted postdoctoral research in Dr. Bernardo Sabatini’s laboratory at Harvard Medical School that focused on the development of corticostriatal circuits and its implication in ASD. Dr. Peixoto's early work as a graduate student demonstrated for the first time that neurologins can be cleaved by fast acting matrix metalloproteases-9 and that this cleavage has a profound impact on synaptic transmission in the brain. He has developed novel approaches for using mouse models to study the pathophysiologies underlying autism. Dr. Peixoto joined the Department of Psychiatry faculty in January 2019 and is currently the Principal Investigator for two projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, R01 investigating the mechanisms and pathogenic role of early corticostriatal dysfunction in Shank3B-/- Mice and an R21 project focusing on the characterization of striatal dopamine dynamics in Shank3-/- Mice during postnatal development.
Join us in the WPH Auditorium or via Zoom for this hybrid event:
Link: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/96501734666
Passcode: 582731
For More Information, please contact Shardai Key-Ward at keysj4@upmc.edu.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS. The entirety of this program will be a lecture by the speaker(s). All individuals able to control the content of this educational activity are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any proprietary entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services, used on, or consumed by, patients. Registration is not required for this event. This event is free and there will be no refunds. The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference. WPH is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. WPH maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits. The indicated number of clock hours of continuing education is provided through UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s Office of Educational Resources and Planning, a PA-approved provider of social work continuing education in accordance with all the applicable educational and professional standards of the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist. These clock hours satisfy requirements for LSW/LCSW, LPC and LMFT renewal. For more information, call (412) 204-9085.
