Bridge Lab: Brain and Behavior in Children with RASopathies

Bridge Lab: Brain and Behavior in Children with RASopathies New Brain Imaging Research Opportunity for Children

BRIDGE Lab is conducting a new fully online study (via Zoom) exploring how teens with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) thi...
07/18/2025

BRIDGE Lab is conducting a new fully online study (via Zoom) exploring how teens with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) think, feel, and prepare for adulthood.

We’re looking for teens ages 12–17 with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of NF1 (via genetic testing) to participate. Participants will complete neuropsychological testing.

Families will receive a personalized report summarizing results plus, a $50 gift card as a thank you! Check your eligibility here: https://redcap.link/bridge_studies

Please join us in welcoming our amazing summer interns to BRIDGE Lab! We’re thrilled to have Tali, Catalina, and Annetta...
07/14/2025

Please join us in welcoming our amazing summer interns to BRIDGE Lab!

We’re thrilled to have Tali, Catalina, and Annetta join the team. Each of them brings curiosity, enthusiasm, and fresh perspective to our work, and we’re excited to learn and grow together this summer.

Dr. Sara Pardej and Dr. Julia Plank recently presented our research at the Children's Tumor Foundation conference in Was...
07/01/2025

Dr. Sara Pardej and Dr. Julia Plank recently presented our research at the Children's Tumor Foundation conference in Washington, DC. Grateful for the opportunity to share our work and connect with others dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with neurogenetic conditions.

Last month, BRIDGE Lab’s very own Dr. Julia Plank presented her digital poster at the International Society of Magnetic ...
06/10/2025

Last month, BRIDGE Lab’s very own Dr. Julia Plank presented her digital poster at the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii! 🧠🌈

Her presentation showcased exciting new findings using QT1 MRI to study white matter differences in children with RASopathies, including Noonan syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1. This innovative technique could help us better understand brain development and support kids with neurodevelopmental conditions.

We’re so proud of Julia for sharing this work on an international stage and continuing to push the field forward!

Check out the newest publication from BRIDGE Lab, congratulations to Dr. Julia Plank and her team. Read the full article...
06/10/2025

Check out the newest publication from BRIDGE Lab, congratulations to Dr. Julia Plank and her team.

Read the full article here or the summary below: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006322325011485

🧠 Myelin is a fatty substance that helps brain cells communicate and plays a key role in cognitive development. It might be possible to improve cognitive difficulties by targeting myelin, but we don’t yet fully understand how myelin is altered in children with neurodevelopmental conditions like Noonan syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1.

📚In our study, we used an MRI scanning technique called quantitative T1 (QT1) to look at myelin in 49 children with RASopathies and compared them to 23 typical developing (TD) peers.

📈 We found evidence of increased myelin across 34 (87%) of the 39 white matter tracts in the RASopathies group compared to TD.

🔍We expect this result may be related to the altered development of specialized myelin-producing brain cells (oligodendrocytes) in RASopathies, as has been shown by animal research.

✅To our knowledge, this was the first study to apply QT1 to a cohort with RASopathies. Due to its short scan time (~3 minutes) and specificity, QT1 shows promise as a useful tool for improving understanding of the brain and exploring new ways to support brain development in children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

06/04/2025

New publication from our lab. Big congratulations to Dr. Yaffa Serur and her team.

Children with RASopathies, specifically Neurofibromatosis type 1 and Noonan Syndrome, showed a highly irritable profile associated with ADHD symptoms and social impairment, with a significantly stronger association between irritability and social processes in Noonan Syndrome.

Here is a link to the full text article:

Dr. Yaffa Serur gave  presentation at the Rockin' Hops Music Festival & NF Symposium, hosted by NF Northern California !...
05/19/2025

Dr. Yaffa Serur gave presentation at the Rockin' Hops Music Festival & NF Symposium, hosted by NF Northern California ! It was a powerful day of music, community, and learning — thank you to everyone who came out to support individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis, and for Debbie Bell and NF Northern California for putting this important event together and inviting us.

BRIDGE Lab is conducting a new fully online study (via Zoom) exploring how teens with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) thi...
05/16/2025

BRIDGE Lab is conducting a new fully online study (via Zoom) exploring how teens with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) think, feel, and prepare for adulthood.

We’re looking for teens ages 12–17 with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of NF1 (via genetic testing) to participate. Participants will complete neuropsychological testing.

Families will receive a personalized report summarizing results plus, a $50 gift card as a thank you! Check your eligibility here: http://redcap.link/nf1_study

05/12/2025

🌸 Happy Mother’s Day from BRIDGE Lab! 🌸

Today we celebrate the strength, love, and tireless advocacy of mothers—especially those navigating the challenges of caring for children with complex medical and developmental needs. Your voices guide our research, and your dedication inspires our mission every day.

With gratitude,
💙 The BRIDGE Lab Team

Missed our recent webinar on RASopathies in adolescence? Check out the on-demand version. This webinar is for parents an...
05/08/2025

Missed our recent webinar on RASopathies in adolescence?

Check out the on-demand version. This webinar is for parents and caregivers of children with RASopathies, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of adolescence. Dr. Sara Pardej, a postdoctoral fellow at BRIDGE Lab with a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, kicks off the session with a brief presentation. The majority of the hour is dedicated answering presubmitted questions about fostering independence, supporting emotional well-being, and guiding children through the transition to adulthood.

This webinar is for parents and caregivers of children with RASopathies, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of adolescence. Dr. Sara Pardej, a post...

Don’t miss our free webinar that is happening tomorrow! The topic is: Navigating Adolescence with RASopathies🗓 Saturday,...
05/02/2025

Don’t miss our free webinar that is happening tomorrow! The topic is: Navigating Adolescence with RASopathies

🗓 Saturday, May 3
⏰ 9 AM PT | 11 AM CT | 12 PM ET
📍 Live on Zoom

Dr. Sara Pardej from BRIDGE Lab will talk about fostering independence and emotional well-being in teens with RASopathies—followed by a Q&A and open discussion.

🔗 Register here https://forms.gle/7PTrerByaexZFHVU8

We are doing our final recruitment push for Noonan Syndrome SOS1 and RAF1.Do you want to see your child’s brain and gain...
04/28/2025

We are doing our final recruitment push for Noonan Syndrome SOS1 and RAF1.
Do you want to see your child’s brain and gain valuable insights into their development? Stanford University is inviting families with children ages 5-17, diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome (SOS1 and RAF1 mutations), to participate in a groundbreaking study.

By joining, your child will receive:
✅ A complimentary, in-depth neuropsychological evaluation
✅ An honorarium as a thank-you for your contribution

Help advance research that could make a difference for children everywhere!

🔗 Check your eligibility and learn more: https://redcap.link/lphthuz9

Address

Stanford, CA

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