“This is the first attempt to investigate the role of brain metabolism in the 16p11.2 deletion autism syndrome, and represents a paradigm shift for the field.”- Dr. Baptiste LacosteDr. Baptiste Lacoste received a $550,000 USD grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to investigate whether brain metabolism could play a role in autism. 

Brain metabolism describes how energy is delivered to and used by the brain – an organ that requires an enormous amount of energy. Dr. Lacoste’s team suspects that one of the most common genetic mutations found in autism spectrum disorder, the 16p11.2 deletion, also triggers a major change in brain metabolism. 

His team will use advanced technologies to measure brain metabolism in mice with 16p11.2 deletions and investigate the effect of this deletion on their brain cells. The team will also test whether giving these mice treatments to improve their brain metabolism will also improve core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.

“This is the first attempt to investigate the role of brain metabolism in the 16p11.2 deletion autism syndrome, and represents a paradigm shift for the field.”- Dr. Baptiste Lacoste, scientist at The Ottawa Hospital, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.

Collaborators: Dr. Julien Courchet (University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France), Dr. Cesar Comin (University of São Carlos, Brazil).

This work is supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Autism Research Program, under Award No. W81XWH2210583. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.