Linda J. Richards AO, FAA, FAHMS, PhD

Chair, Department of Neuroscience and Edison Professor of Neuroscience

Phone: 314-362-3033
Email: Linda.Richards@wustl.edu

Research

Research in the Richards laboratory focuses on the development, plasticity, and function of long-range connections of the cerebral cortex. The corpus callosum is the largest fibre tract in the brain of placental mammals and connects neurons in each cortical hemisphere. We investigate how cellular and molecular/genetic mechanisms regulate brain wiring during development and how brain wiring is altered in congenital corpus callosum dysgenesis (CCD).

CCD occurs in 1:4000 people and can result in profound changes in the structural architecture of brain connectivity due to long-range axonal plasticity that occurs during development. The lab investigates the underlying causes of CCD, how long-range axonal plasticity occurs and how these structural changes in brain wiring impact cognition and behaviour.

Professor Richards is a board member of the International Research Consortium for the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Connectivity (IRC5) and a scientific advisor and patron of Australian Disorders of the Corpus Callosum (AusDoCC) support group.

In addition to her research, Professor Richards is a passionate advocate for neuroscience. She contributed to establishing the International Brain Initiative, the Australian Brain Alliance and the Australian Brain Bee Challenge and is a board member of the International Brain Bee and a member of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives.

Selected publications

Edwards T.J., Fenlon L.R., Dean R.J., Bunt J., IRC5 Consortium, Sherr E.H. and Richards L.J. (2020) Altered structural connectivity networks in a mouse model of complete and partial dysgenesis of the corpus callosum. NeuroImage doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116868.
Paolino A., Fenlon L.R., Kozulin P., Haines E., Lim J.W.C., Richards L.J. and Suárez R. (2020) Differential timing of a conserved transcriptional network underlies divergent cortical projection routes across mammalian evolution. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Sciences doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1922422117.
Chen K-S., Bunt J., Bridges C.R., Lynton Z., Lim J.W.C., Stringer B.W., Rajagopal R., Wong K-T., Ganesan D., Ariffin H., Day B.W., Richards L.J.^§ and Bunt J.^§ (2019) Transcription factors NFIA and NFIB induce cellular differentiation high-grade astrocytoma. Journal of Neuro-Oncology doi:10.1007/s11060-019-03352-3. ^§Equal last and senior authors.
Schanze I., Bunt J., Boppudi S., Lim J.W.C., Schanze D., Dean R.J., Alders M., Blanchet P., Attié-Bitach T., Berland S., Bridges C.J., Cho M.T., Desai S., Dobyns W.B., Donnai D., Douglas J., Earl D.L., Edwards T.J., Faivre L., Genevieve D., Gérard M., Gatinois V., Holder-Espinasse M., Huth S.F., Izumi, K., Kerr, B., Lacaze E., Lakeman P., Mirzaa G., Morgan S., Nowak C., Peeters H., Petit F., Pilz D.T., Puechberty J., Reinstein E., Rivière J-B., Santani A.B., Schneider A., Sherr E.H., Smith-Hicks C., Wieland I., Zackai E., Zhao X., Gronostajski R.M., Zenker M., and Richards L.J. (2018) NFIB haploinsufficiency is associated with intellectual disability and marcocephaly. The American Journal of Human Genetics doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.10.006.
Suárez R., Paolino A., Fenlon L.R., Morcom L.R., Kozulin P., Kurniawan N.D., and Richards L.J. (2018) A pan-mammalian map of interhemispheric brain connections predates the evolution of the corpus callosum. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Sciences doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1808262115.
Hearne L.J., Dean R., Robinson G., Richards L.J., Mattingley J. and Cocchi L. (2018) Increased cognitive complexity reveals abnormal brain network activity in individuals with corpus callosum dysgenesis. Neuroimage: Clinical doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2018.11.005.
Marsh A.P.L., Herron D., Edwards T.J., et al, Richards L.J.^§ Lockhart P.J.^§ and Depienne C.^§ (2017) Mutations in DCC cause isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum with incomplete penetrance. Nature Genetics doi:10.1038/ng.3794. ^§Equal last and senior authors.
Gobius I., Morcom L., Suárez R., Bunt J., Bukshpun P., Reardon W., Dobyns W.B., Rubenstein J.L.R., Barkovich A.J., Sherr E.H. and Richards L.J. (2016) Astroglial-mediated remodeling of the interhemispheric midline is required for the formation of the corpus callosum. Cell Reports 17: 735-747. doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.033.
Stringer B.W., Bunt J., Bryan W., Day B.W., Barry G., Jamieson P.R., Ensbey K.S., Bruce Z.C., Goasdoué K., Vidal H., Charmsaz S., Smith F.M., Cooper L.T., Piper M., Boyd A.W. and Richards L.J. (2016) Nuclear Factor One B (NFIB) encodes a subtype-specific tumour suppressor in glioblastoma. Oncotarget 5. 2016 May 17;7(20):29306-20. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.8720.
Suárez R., Fenlon L.R., Marek R., Avitan L., Sah P., Goodhill G.J. and Richards L.J. (2014) Balanced interhemispheric cortical activity is required for correct targeting of the corpus callosum. Neuron 82: 1289-1298. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.040.

Publications in neuroscience advocacy

International Brain Initiative (IBI) (2020) International Brain Initiative: An innovative framework for coordinated global brain research efforts. Neuron doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.002. * Richards L.J. co-corresponding author.
Australian Brain Alliance (2019) A Neuroethics Framework for the Australian Brain Initiative. Neuron doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.004. *Richards L.J. co-corresponding author.
Australian Brain Alliance (2016) Australian Brain Alliance Neuron 92: 597-600. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.038. *Richards L.J. corresponding author.

For a complete list of Dr. Richards’ publications visit PubMed.

Education

1991-1994 Doctorate of Philosophy, The University of Melbourne
1990 Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours), The University of Melbourne

Selected honors

2020 Cajal Club 2020 Krieg Cortical Kudos Discoverer Award
2020 Cajal Club Pinckney J Harman Memorial Lecture
2019 Appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia (General Division) “For distinguished service to medical research and education in the field of developmental neurobiology, and to science and community engagement in science.”
2016 Elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
2015 Elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science
2017-2018 President, Australasian Neuroscience Society
2010 Australasian Neuroscience Society – Nina Kondelos Prize for a female neuroscientist who has made an outstanding contribution to basic or clinical neuroscience research
2004 Charles Judson Herrick Award, conferred by the American Association of Anatomists in recognition of “young investigators who have made important contributions to the field and have demonstrated remarkable promise of future accomplishments”