Recognition highlights groundbreaking research into genetic brain disorders
SOURCE: The Institute
September 5, 2025
Wei-Hsiang Huang, PhD, Scientist at The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) and Associate Professor at McGill University's Centre for Research in Neuroscience has received the prestigious Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prize in Genetics from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Genetics.
This national award celebrates early-career investigators whose research excellence is advancing the field of genetics. The prize is named in honour of Dr. Maud Menten, a trailblazing Canadian biomedical scientist whose work included the co-discovery of the Michaelis–Menten equation, one of the most enduring principles in biochemistry.
Prof. Huang earned the prize for his CIHR-funded project Molecular pathogenesis of Smith-Magenis syndrome and developing therapy using hiPSC-derived neuronal models. His research focuses on how copy number variants (CNVs)—genetic alterations involving missing or extra segments of DNA—disrupt brain development and function.
At his laboratory, Prof. Huang integrates stem cell–based neuronal models, mouse models, and cutting-edge neuroscience approaches to reveal how CNVs influence gene expression, neural circuitry, and cognition. His long-term goal is to translate these insights into innovative treatments. For instance, his team is exploring CRISPR-based strategies to restore balanced gene activity and potentially reverse the effects of genetic brain disorders.
The award underscores the significance of Prof. Huang's research in advancing knowledge of rare neurodevelopmental disorders and supports his ongoing efforts to translate these insights into therapeutic strategies.
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