The Hypothalamic cellular model project

How can you participate?

The enrollment in this study begins with an interview with our study team on phone or video. We would like to learn about the progression of your child’s symptoms and the path to diagnosis. Following this discussion, we send a kit to the family to collect blood samples from the individual with ROHHAD syndrome and their family members to be shipped to us at no cost to the family. For the families within US, we will send a phlebotomy team to your home for the blood draw. Please contact vidhu.thaker@columbia.edu for additional information and ways to participate.  

Figure: Hypothalamic cellular model project

Meet the Team

This project is being undertaken in the Division of Molecular Genetics at Columbia University Medical Center. Under the leadership of Dr. Rudolph Leibel, our division has worked with several syndromic diseases where obesity is a prominent feature including Prader Willi syndrome and Bardet Biedl syndrome amongst others. We have discovered the functional changes in Prader Willi syndrome using the same testing plan that has led to development of new approaches to management. We hope to use these methods to find the answers for ROHHAD syndrome that may someday potentially guide therapy.

Vidhu Thaker

Cecilia Sena

Molly Nguyen

Columbia Stem Cell Initiative team