EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATOR SPOTLIGHT
What are your research goals?
Dr. Sandweiss: My short-term research goals are to identify risk factors and early biomarkers that may predict the onset of NMDARE. My long-term research goals are to understand the underlying mechanisms that drive this disorder in order to develop novel interventions that improve children's neurocognitive outcomes.
How are you involved with the RDCRN?
Dr. Sandweiss: I am a member of the Autoimmunity, Rasmussen's, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus research Network (ARISEN), a consortium supported by the RDCRN with the goal of advancing research in rare neuroinflammatory diseases, including NMDARE.
How does participating in the network support your long-term development?
Dr. Sandweiss: The resources and connectivity of the RDCRN will directly impact my rare disease research seeking to identify early biomarkers of disease. In the process, alongside my mentors and collaborators, I will develop the skill set necessary to become an independent investigator and ultimately play a role in teasing apart the underlying molecular mechanisms of autoimmune neurological disease.