Biography

Dr. Huber obtained her Ph.D. in Neurobiology in 1995 from The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston where she worked with Drs. Paul Kelly and Michael Mauk on the neurobiological mechanisms of learning and memory, specifically long-term changes in neuronal connections, termed synaptic plasticity. Dr. Huber performed her postdoctoral training with Dr. Mark Bear at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Brown University where she discovered novel mechanisms and forms of synaptic plasticity as well as demonstrated specific alterations in synaptic plasticity in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome, the most common genetic cause of human mental retardation and autism. Dr. Huber joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in 2001 where she is she is currently a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Southwestern Medical Foundation Endowed Scholar.

Research in the Huber lab is focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse and neural circuit development and plasticity as well as the role of genes implicated in human autism and intellectual disability in these processes.  To address these questions her lab utilizes state-of-the-art neurophysiology, imaging, biochemistry and molecular biology techniques in mice.  Her lab has discovered novel molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity as well as new functions and mechanisms for the Fragile X Mental Retardation gene 1 (Fmr1) in cortical synapse development and plasticity. Her work has led to a better understanding of the neurobiology of Fragile X Syndrome and autism as well as identified novel therapeutic strategies. 

Work is the Huber laboratory is supported by grants from the NIH, FRAXA Research Foundation, The Simons Foundation for Autism Research Initiative and The Hartwell Foundation.

Education

Undergraduate
Stephen F Austin State Uni (1987), Biology
Graduate School
Univ of Tx Health Science Ctr (1995), Neuroscience

Research Interest

  • Activity-regulated translation and transcription in the brain
  • Mechanisms of synapse development and plasticity
  • Roles of Autism-risk genes in development and function of neural circuits

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Ribosome profiling in mouse hippocampus: plasticity-induced regulation and bidirectional control by TSC2 and FMRP.
Hien A, Molinaro G, Liu B, Huber KM, Richter JD, Mol Autism 2020 Oct 11 1 78

Honors & Awards

  • Javits Award
    NINDS (2020)
  • Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative - Individual Investigator Award
    Simons Foundation (2012)
  • William and Enid Rosen Research Award for Outstanding Contributions to Fragile X Syndrome
    National Fragile X Foundation (2012)
  • Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative -Pilot Award
    Simons Foundation (2009)
  • McKnight Foundation Brain Disorder Award
    (2002)
  • Endowed Scholars Award in Biomedical Research
    (2001)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2019)
  • Society for Neuroscience (1990)