I am a physician-scientist with the unique combination of skills in cellular and molecular neurobiology and diagnostic neuropathology. There are two general areas of research in my laboratory, both supported by extramural funding. The first area focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern neural circuit development and function. Another major area of research in my lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition to our seminal work to investigate disease mechanisms in model organisms, we have made every effort to directly connect our research with human diseases. To this end, I have spearheaded the efforts to establish the UC Pediatric Neuropathology Consortium. The success of this endeavor is underscored by our extensive collaborations with colleagues within and outside UCSF, which lead to many important discoveries. Most importantly, these studies revealed previously unrecognized role of neural circuit dysfunctions in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, and re-define our approaches toward investigating the molecular and cellular pathways in these devastating diseases.