Genotype-phenotype Characterization Study on Genetic Diseases With Immune and Neurological Dysfunctions

The research methodology is classic with regard to many genetic clinical studies, and aims to: * clinically define the phenotypes of these diseases (in this case, genetic diseases with immune and neurological dysfunctions) * identify the gene(s) responsible for each disease * Understand how changes in these genes and protein functions cause these diseases. It is possible that this research will ultimately lead to the creation of diagnostic tests (e.g. molecular diagnostic screening tests) and treatments that would be clinically very useful for the patients participating in the project. These discoveries could also improve our knowledge of other more common pathologies, particularly those associated with autoimmunity (e.g. when the body increases an immune response against its own tissues). As a complement to this global research project, Prof. Crow's team intends to study cell populations from patients with no inflammatory pathology, in order to analyze their basal levels of immune and inflammatory mediator production, as well as to assess their capacity (kinetics and amplitude) to respond to stimuli.