The human brain contains around 100 billion neurons. Their genesis, development and degeneration are all governed by underlying gene regulatory networks (GRNs). These fundamental biological processes represent a nexus where basic and translational neurobiology converge; the same processes that orchestrate normal neuronal development, maturation and death are those that malfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. We aim to identify these networks and uncover how they vary across individuals, thereby causing errors of neurodevelopment or susceptibility to neurodegeneration. This overarching goal is as much about developing a basic understanding of how neuronal phenotype emerges from interactions among the genes of the network as it is about translating this understanding into identification of novel therapeutic targets. All of our work is guided by a credo that understanding basic biological mechanisms and identifying targets for therapeutic intervention are inextricably intertwined. To implement this vision, we work collaboratively with basic, clinical and translational neuroscientists, molecular biologists, stem cell biologists and computational biologists.