Gene J. Blatt, Ph.D.

Professor

Office Number: 617-638-5260
Lab Number: 617-683-5261
Fax: 617-638-4216
Email: gblatt@bu.edu
Location: R – 1003, BUSM

Dr. Blatt received his doctorate in Anatomy with a concentration in Neuroscience from Thomas Jefferson University in 1986 studying the olivocerebellar system in spontaneous varieties of genetic mutations in mice. He completed postdoctoral training in Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology at the Salk Institute in LaJolla, California 1985-87 studying response properties and connectivity of posterior parietal cortical neurons in primates.

Dr. Blatt became a Research Associate in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at BUSM in 1987, studying primate limbic system connectivity. In 1993, he became an Assistant Research Professor; in 1994 Assistant Professor, in 2003 an Associate Professor  and in 2011 became  a Professor.

Dr. Blatt’s current laboratory, The Laboratory for Autism Neuroscience Research investigates the pathologic and neurochemical biomarkers of autism disorder focusing on the GABAergic, glutamatergic and serotonergic systems in the cerebellum, limbic areas, and cerebral cortex.

Dr. Blatt is also the editor and chapter author in a book entitled The Neurochemical Basis of Autism; Molecules to Mini-Columns Springer Publishers, NY. (2010).

Dr. Blatt has taught in all three major departmental courses offered to medical and graduate students: Neurosciences, Histology and Gross Anatomy, in which he served as Course Manager from 1994-2000. He organized a graduate course with Dr. Kemper in the Neuroanatomical Basis of Neurological Disorders which has been well received by departmental graduate students.

Dr. Blatt’s current service commitments include the Faculty Development and Promotions committee, the Department Qualifying Examination Committee, and is the Chair of the BUSM Academic Policy Committee. He is an advisor to the Graduate Division Masters in Medical Science students and an advisor-at-large in the BUSM Crumpler Academy. He also interviews M.D./Ph.D. students for BUSM. Dr. Blatt additionally serves on the Editorial Board of the flagship Autism journal Autism Research, and as a grant reviewer for NIH.

Recent Publications

Blatt, G.J., ed., (2010) The Neurochemical Basis of Autism: Molecules to Minicolumns, Springer Publishers, N.Y., Berlin.

Blatt GJ, Fatemi SH. (2011) Alterations in GABAergic biomarkers in the autism brain: research findings and clinical implications. Anat Rec. 294(10):1646-52

Oblak, A., Gibbs T.T. and Blatt,G.J. (2011) Reduced GABA_A receptors and benzodiazepine binding sites in the posterior cingulate cortex and fusiform gyrus in autism. Brain Res. 1380:218-228.

Oblak, A., Kemper, T.L., Bauman, M.L. and Blatt, G.J. (2011) Altered posterior cingulate cortical cytoarchitecture, but normal density of neurons and interneurons in the posterior cingulate cortex and fusiform gyrus in autism. Autism Res. 4(3):200-211.

Lawrence, Y.L., Kemper, T.L., Bauman, M.L., and Blatt, G.J.  (2010) Parvalbumin, Calbindin, and Calretinin Immunoreactive Interneuron Density in Autism.  Acta Neurol. Scan. 121(2):99-108.

Oblak, A., Gibbs, T.T., and Blatt, G.J.  (2010) Decreased GABA_B receptors in the cingulate cortex and fusiform gyrus in autism. J. Neurochem. 114(5):1414-1423.

Oblak, A, Gibbs, T.T., and Blatt, G.J.  (2009) Decreased GABA_A receptors and benzodiazepine binding sites in the anterior cingulate cortex in autism.  Autism Res. 2:205-219.

Yip, J., Soghomonian, J-J. and Blatt, G.J. (2009) Decreased GAD65 mRNA levels in select subpopulations of neurons in the cerebellar dentate nuclei in autism: an in situ hybridization study. Autism Res. 2:50-59.

Yip, J., Soghomonian, J-J. and Blatt, G.J. (2008) Increased GAD67 mRNA expression in cerebellar interneurons in autism:implications for Purkinje cell dysfunction. J. Neurosci. Res. 86:525-530.

Yip, J., Soghomonian, J-J. and Blatt, G.J. (2007)  Decreased GAD67 mRNA levels in cerebellar Purkinje cells in autism: pathophysiological implications. Acta Neuropath. 113:559-568.