PhD holder Ania Majewska appointed as joint director of UR-IDDRC

University of Rochester Researcher Ania Majewska's Groundbreaking Work in IDD and Developmental Neuroscience

Ania Majewska, PhD, a renowned researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), has been making significant strides in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disorders (IDD) and developmental neuroscience. Her work, which has earned her numerous accolades, is shedding light on the potential effects of environmental toxins on brain development and the possible links to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.

Majewska's impressive career began in 2005 when she joined URMC as an assistant professor in the Neurobiology and Anatomy department. Since then, she has risen through the ranks, becoming the co-director of the University of Rochester Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (UR-IDDRC), the director of the Cell and Molecular Imaging core of the UR-IDDRC, and a key figure in the Neuroscience Diversity Commission.

In 2015 and 2020, Majewska was named the Outstanding Graduate Program Director by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, a testament to her exceptional leadership skills. Her mentorship and training in neuroscience research have been widely recognized, including the NINDS Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship in 2022 and the Peter Shrager Award in 2021.

One of Majewska's primary research interests is developmental neuroscience, focusing on the interactions between microglia in the brain's immune system and neurons during development. Her recent work has revealed that the toxin TCDD, a pollutant humans are exposed to primarily through the consumption of meat, dairy products, and fish, can cause the brain's immune system to go awry later in life. This could potentially contribute to disorders like autism and ADHD.

TCDD, or 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, can cause persistent, toxicant-specific disruptions in the brain's epigenome and transcriptome when exposure occurs early in life. These molecular alterations can disrupt normal brain function and development, creating a biological basis for disorders. While the direct association of TCDD with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not explicitly detailed in the search results, the type of epigenomic and transcriptomic perturbations induced by TCDD exposure are broadly consistent with mechanisms implicated in such neurodevelopmental disorders.

Additional context from pesticide neurotoxicity research shows that other pesticides, such as organophosphates and insecticides, have been linked to brain inflammation, altered neurodevelopment, behavioral disturbances, and cognitive impairments in animal models. These findings support the plausibility that environmental toxicants like TCDD—classified as a dioxin and potent environmental pollutant—could have similar neurodevelopmental impacts.

In summary, Majewska's research suggests that TCDD induces long-lasting, sex-dependent molecular disruptions in the brain's epigenome and gene expression during development. These molecular changes can interfere with normal brain maturation, possibly elevating risks for neurological and developmental disorders. While direct evidence linking TCDD specifically to ASD or ADHD remains limited, comparable effects of pesticides on neurodevelopment suggest potential relevance to such disorders. Further studies integrating molecular, behavioral, and epidemiological data are needed for definitive associations.

Aside from her groundbreaking research, Majewska is also an outstanding mentor, as noted by her colleagues. Her dedication to fostering the next generation of neuroscientists is transforming what we understand about the developing brain. At the Medical Center, she is recognised as a leader in IDD research.

Majewska's journey began with a post-doctoral fellowship at MIT before joining URMC. Her commitment to IDD research and her role in the founding of the Neuroscience Diversity Commission further solidify her position as a trailblazer in her field. The University of Rochester is fortunate to have such a dedicated and accomplished researcher on its team.