Rodney Cavero Samaco, Ph.D.
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Rodney Cavero Samaco, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
Positions
- Visiting Assistant Professor
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Molecular and Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US
Education
- PhD from Baylor College Of Medicine
- 09/2010 - Houston, Texas United States
- Molecular and Human Genetics
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital
- 01/2011 - Houston, Texas United States
- BS from University Of California, Davis
- 06/2001 - Davis, CA United States
- Genetics
Professional Interests
- Rare genetic intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities; preclinical outcome measures and biomarkers
Professional Statement
With over 20 years of experience in molecular and behavioral genetics and translational neuroscience, the overarching focus of my research and professional portfolio has been to leverage basic science research findings to drive the development of actionable therapies for rare and ultra-rare genetic intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities.Within this landscape, my domain expertise centers on studies of commonly shared yet variable features that primarily impact the developing CNS, many of which are attributed to loss-of-function genetic variants that impact typical neurodevelopmental outcomes. To this end, I have cultivated a basic science research program that seeks to forge definitive links between manipulations of CNS-related genes in specific brains regions and during critical developmental windows, alterations in neurobehavioral endophenotypes that track with fluid or tissue biomarkers, and changes in EEG-derived measures of in vivo neural network activity that may be underlie behavioral and molecular outcomes. By harnessing the unique strengths of studying two model systems, laboratory mice and rats, we acquire cross-species foundational knowledge that serves two inter-connected purposes:
(1) to better understand how perturbations in key neuroanatomical and molecular determinants can result in overlapping clinical manifestations present in neuro-related conditions with variable disease severity across the life span, and
(2) to optimize the framework for preclinical readiness of rare disease models through the natural history of disease in genetically modified rodents, informed through evolutionary conservation and proof-of-concept studies
Finally, community-based participatory research principles have been instrumental in deploying unique strategies that fulfill the needs of advocacy groups in a meaningful and equitable manner. The depth and breadth of my ongoing multi-directional engagement within and across non-profit-advocacy and -research organizations has offered deeper insight in finding creative solutions to ‘process challenges’ concerning capacity and infrastructure development. By fostering collaborations across the landscape of patient advocacy, academic, and industry groups, I strive to ensure the relevance and value-add of our contributions to research and development of actionable therapies.
Selected Publications
- 12. Gulinello M, Mitchell HA, Chang Q, Timothy O'Brien W, Zhou Z, Abel T, Wang L, Corbin JG, Veeraragavan S, Samaco RC, Andrews NA, Fagiolini M, Cole TB, Burbacher TM, Crawley JN. "Rigor and reproducibility in rodent behavioral research.." Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2018 Jan 4;pii: S1074-7427(18)30001-7. Pubmed PMID: 29307548
- 22. Katz DM, Berger-Sweeney JE, Eubanks JH, Justice MJ, Neul JL, Pozzo-Miller L, Blue ME, Christian D, Crawley JN, Giustetto M, Guy J, Howell CJ, Kron M, Nelson SB, Samaco RC, Schaevitz LR, St Hillaire-Clarke C, Young JL, Zoghbi HY, Mamounas LA "Preclinical research in Rett syndrome: setting the foundation for translational success.." Dis Model Mech. 2012 Nov;5(6):733-45. Pubmed PMID: 23115203
- 17. Veeraragavan S, Wan YW, Connolly DR, Hamilton SM, Ward CS, Soriano S, Pitcher MR, McGraw CM, Huang SG, Green JR, Yuva LA, Liang AJ, Neul JL, Yasui DH, LaSalle JM, Liu Z, Paylor R, Samaco RC "Loss of MeCP2 in the rat models regression, impaired sociability and transcriptional deficits of Rett syndrome.." Hum Mol Genet.. 2016 Aug 1;25(15):3284-3302. Pubmed PMID: 27365498
- 26. Samaco RC, Mandel-Brehm C, Chao HT, Ward CS, Fyffe-Maricich SL, Ren J, Hyland K, Thaller C, Maricich SM, Humphreys P, Greer JJ, Percy A, Glaze DG, Zoghbi HY, Neul JL "Loss of MeCP2 in aminergic neurons causes cell-autonomous defects in neurotransmitter synthesis and specific behavioral abnormalities.." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2009 Dec 22;106(51):21966-71. Pubmed PMID: 20007372
- 15 .McGraw CM, Ward CS, Samaco RC "Genetic Rodent Models of Brain Disorders: Perspectives on Experimental Approaches and Therapeutic Strategies." Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017 Sep;175(3):368-379. Pubmed PMID: 28910526
- 20. Samaco RC, McGraw CM, Ward CS, Sun Y, Neul JL, Zoghbi HY "Female Mecp2+/- mice display robust behavioral deficits on two different genetic backgrounds providing a framework for pre-clinical studies.." Hum. Mol. Genet.. 2013 Jan 1;22(1):96-109. Pubmed PMID: 23026749
- 25. Chao HT, Chen H, Samaco RC, Xue M, Chahrour M, Yoo J, Neul JL, Gong S, Lu HC, Heintz N, Ekker M, Rubenstein JL, Noebels JL, Rosenmund C, Zoghbi HY "Dysfunction in GABA signalling mediates autism-like stereotypies and Rett syndrome phenotypes.." Nature. 2010 Nov 11;468(7321):263-9. Pubmed PMID: 21068835
- 30. Bowman AB, Lam YC, Jafar-Nejad P, Chen HK, Richman R, Samaco RC, Fryer JD, Kahle JJ, Orr HT, Zoghbi HY "Duplication of Atxn1l suppresses SCA1 neuropathology by decreasing incorporation of polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 into native complexes.." Nat. Genet.. 2007 Mar;39(3):373-9. Pubmed PMID: 17322884
- 29. Fyffe SL, Neul JL, Samaco RC, Chao HT, Ben-Shachar S, Moretti P, McGill BE, Goulding EH, Sullivan E, Tecott LH, Zoghbi HY "Deletion of Mecp2 in Sim1-expressing neurons reveals a critical role for MeCP2 in feeding behavior, aggression, and the response to stress.." Neuron. 2008 Sep 25;59(6):947-58. Pubmed PMID: 18817733
- 21. Samaco RC, Mandel-Brehm C, McGraw CM, Shaw CA, McGill BE, Zoghbi HY "Crh and Oprm1 mediate anxiety-related behavior and social approach in a mouse model of MECP2 duplication syndrome.." Nat. Genet.. 2012;44(2):206-11. Pubmed PMID: 22231481
- 23. Samaco RC, Neul JL "Complexities of Rett Syndrome and MeCP2.." J. Neurosci.. 2011 Jun 1;31(22):7951-9. Pubmed PMID: 21632916
- 24. McGraw CM, Samaco RC, Zoghbi HY "Adult neural function requires MeCP2.." Science. 2011 Jul 8;333(6039):186. Pubmed PMID: 21636743
- 27. Samaco RC, Fryer JD, Ren J, Fyffe S, Chao HT, Sun Y, Greer JJ, Zoghbi HY, Neul JL "A partial loss of function allele of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 predicts a human neurodevelopmental syndrome.." Hum. Mol. Genet.. 2008 Jun 15;17(12):1718-27. Pubmed PMID: 18321864
- 2. Commission on Novel Technologies for Neurodevelopmental Copy Number Variants. "Neurodevelopmental copy-number variants: A roadmap to improving outcomes by uniting patient advocates, researchers, and clinicians for collective impact.." 2022 Aug 4;109(8):1353-1365. Pubmed PMID: 35931048
- 1. Reznik DL, Yang MV, de la Haza PA, Jain A, Spanjaard M, Theiss S, Schaaf CP, Malovannaya A, Strong TV, Veeraragavan S, Samaco RC. "Truncated rat Magel2 modelled for the study of Schaaf-Yang syndrome alters select behavioral and physiological outcomes.." Dis Model Mech.. 2023 Jan 13; Pubmed PMID: 36637363
- 3. Wotton JM, Peterson E, Flenniken AM... International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium. "Identifying genetic determinants of inflammatory pain in mice using a large-scale gene-targeted screen.." Pain.. 2022 Jun 1;163(6):1139-1157. Pubmed PMID: 35552317
- 4. Leonard H, Gold W, Samaco R, Sahin M, Benke T, Downs J. "Improving clinical trial readiness to accelerate development of new therapeutics for Rett syndrome.." Orphanet J Rare Dis.. 2022 Mar 4;17 Pubmed PMID: 35246185
- 5. Keehan L, Haviland I, Gofin Y...Undiagnosed Diseases Network. "Wide range of phenotypic severity in individuals with late truncations unique to the predominant CDKL5 transcript in the brain.." Am J Med Genet A.. 2022 Dec;188(12):):3516–3524.
- 6. Grebe SC, Limon DL, McNeel MM, Guzick A, Peters SU, Tan WH, Sadhwani A, Bacino CA, Bird LM, Samaco RC, Berry LN, Goodman WK, Schneider SC, Storch EA. "Anxiety in Angelman Syndrome.." Am J Intellect Dev Disabil.. 2022 Jan 1;–10. Pubmed PMID: 34979033
- 7. Ward CS, Huang TW, Herrera JA, Samaco RC, McGraw CM, Parra DE, Arvide EM, Ito-Ishida A, Meng X, Ure K, Zoghbi HY, Neul JL. "Loss of MeCP2 Function Across Several Neuronal Populations Impairs Breathing Response to Acute Hypoxia." Front Neurol.. 2020 Oct 30;11(593554) Pubmed PMID: 33193060
- 8. Haselimashhadi H, Mason JC, Munoz-Fuentes V...International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium. "Soft windowing application to improve analysis of high-throughput phenotyping data.." Bioinformatics. 2020 Mar 1;36(5):1492–1500. Pubmed PMID: 31591642
- 9. Ahmed KL, Simon AR, Dempsey JR, Samaco RC, Goin-Kochel RP. "Evaluating Two Common Strategies for Research Participant Recruitment Into Autism Studies: Observational Study." J Med Internet Res.. 2020 Sep 24;22(9) Pubmed PMID: 32969826
- 11. Sanders SJ, Sahin M, Hostyk J, Thurm A, Jacquemont S...Bearden, CE. "A framework for the investigation of rare genetic disorders in neuropsychiatry.." Nat Med.. 2019 Oct;25(10):1477-1487. Pubmed PMID: 31548702
- 14. Yin J, Chen W, Chao ES, Soriano S, Wang L, Wang W, Cummock SE, Tao H, Pang K, Liu Z, Pereira FA, Samaco RC, Zoghbi HY, Xue M, Schaaf CP. "Otud7a Knockout Mice Recapitulate Many Neurological Features of 15q13.3 Microdeletion Syndrome.." Am J Hum Genet.. 2018 Feb 1;102(2) Pubmed PMID: 29395075
- 18. Chahrour M, O'Roak BJ, Santini E, Samaco RC, Kleiman R, Manzini MC "Current Perspectives in Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Genes to Therapy.." J Neurosci.. 2016;36:11402-11410.. Pubmed PMID: 27911742
- 13. Crawley JN, Fagiolini M, Harrison FE, Samaco R, Wozniak DF, Robinson MB. "Behavioral analyses of animal models of intellectual and developmental disabilities.." Neurobiol Learn Mem.. 2019 Nov;165 Pubmed PMID: 31499164
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