The Norris Lab

04/23/2026

In honor of autism acceptance month, here’s the latest clinical research on the intersections between autism and EDS/HSD 🦋

04/23/2026

Check out our newest publication! This research investigated the role of the intracellular domain of DCHS1 and Van Maldergem syndrome

DOI: 10.3390/cells15070587

04/22/2026

Having Visiting Scholars in the lab is one of the best parts of what we do. We learn so much from their lived experiences, and we want them to leave knowing that science has a place for them. Not only that, but their presence is crucial. They are the ones who will drive the future of EDS research and care forwards❤️

04/22/2026

Our incredible undergraduate research students presented on recent research on Van Maldergem’s syndrome! To learn more, view our recent publication “Loss of the DCHS1 Intracellular Domain Expands Neurogenic Proliferation and Generates Van Maldergem-like Neurodevelopmental Defects” (Byerly et al., 2026).

04/17/2026

Pre-order Complicated on Apple TV or rate it on IMDb. ⭐️🎬 Every action helps put EDS on the map.

04/16/2026

Don’t miss out, get tickets for MUSC MIND 2026 now! 🧠🧬🥼🦓🩺 EDS Day is Tuesday, April 21st, and will feature speakers like Dr. Norris, Dr. Maitland, and many others fantastic researchers and clinicians. Go to MIND2026.ORG to register! If you are a patient purchasing a one-day pass, use code MIND2026CARE for 50% off! We can’t wait to see you🙌

04/14/2026

“Nothing of significance happens alone. This journey for me with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome started seven years ago when Cortney walked into my office and changed how I view research.”
- Dr. Chip Norris, UVA Ehlers-Danlos Research Symposium 2026

04/09/2026

Want to join a research study? Visit thenorrislab.com/enroll

04/07/2026

Check out this translation of a recent literature review published by MD/PhD student Roman Fenner, Dr. Russell Norris, and Dr. Anne Maitland.

This study explores a theory called the epithelial barrier hypothesis and its relation to hypermobility disorders like hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder.

04/06/2026

New blog post featuring our very own Dr. Katy Byerly!

Congratulations Katy on sucessfully defending, medical school is gaining a good one. This blog overviews her research on the DCHS1 gene, van meldergem syndrome, and rheumatic heart disease.

Dissertation by Kathryn ByerlyThe heart's development and its malfunction in disease share many underlying biological processes, but we don't fully understand how. This gap makes it difficult to develop new treatments. This dissertation uses mouse models to study two questions: how the heart forms n...

04/03/2026

The Norris Lab’s Visiting Scholars program offers a three-day, accessible, and immersive experience for patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hypermobile spectrum disorder to become patient-scientists.

By offering tailored shadowing opportunities, engaging discussions with other patients, and collaborative seminars with experts, we empower our visiting scholars to deepen their understanding of how they can contribute meaningfully to the fields of science, medicine, and public health. 💛

Alt text:
1: “Being a patient scientist means taking back power that was once removed from years of dismissive doctors, misdiagnoses, and feeling like my illness is all in my head. It also gives me a sense of hope that even though I live with this disease, I am able to make a difference in my life. Also, it gives me a community of people who share the same condition as me.

My future career goals are to become a pediatric orthopedic nurse. Going through my whole childhood and teenage years with many ortho complications and not having answers has made me want to be the provider that I needed back then. Also, being able to empathize with children who are in pain is my goal, as that truly would have been so validating for me to hear. My end goal is to become an NP to allow me to treat conditions like EDS.”

2: “To me, being a patient-scientist means being able to bring my personal symptoms, feelings, questions, and concerns into a space where I can find answers and use my experiences as motivation to bring answers to others. I think that being a patient-scientist allows me to truly believe in what I’m working towards, so that even when it gets hard I won’t stop working towards my goal.

In the future, I want to play a huge role in the research of HSD and hEDS, especially looking for evidence to validate the difference between symptoms in females vs males. I want to get my MD/PhD and eventually become a pediatric rheumatologist so that I can help kids who go through the same experiences that I’m going through.”

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03/31/2026

Happy endometriosis awareness month 💛