Peter Tsai, M.D., Ph.D.

Peter Tsai, M.D., Ph.D., whose research focuses on the mechanisms of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically the contribution of cerebellar dysfunction to these disorders, will establish a lab at UT Southwestern and treat patients in the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

Dr. Tsai, Assistant Professor of Neurology & Neurotherapeutics, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry, will treat children whose neurodevelopmental disorders are linked to abnormalities in the cerebellum.

He became interested in the link between the cerebellum and cognition and behavior as a resident, discovering that cerebellar dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of autism. He focuses on this connection in the lab and will develop a translational laboratory research program aimed at understanding the molecular and circuitry mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

“Having colleagues such as Dr. Craig Powell whose research interests complement mine was one of the reasons I decided to join this department,” he said. “Also, Dr. (Mark) Goldberg has fostered a translational perspective among the department’s researchers, which I’m excited to be a part of.”

Dr. Tsai earned his M.D./Ph.D. from The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He completed his pediatrics and child neurology residencies and behavioral neurology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Craig Powell is the Ed and Sue Rose Distinguished Professor in Neurology.

Dr. Mark Goldberg is the Linda and Mitch Hart Distinguished Chair in Neurology.