Elizabeth gave a wonderfully clear presentation of her discovery work on the genetic and mechanistic basis of developmental abnormalities affecting the cranial nerves controlling extraocular eye movements.  She explained how she moved from genetic to mechanistic findings to identify specific abnormalities in protein function in conditions such as congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, now known to be misnamed given Elizabeth’s compelling evidence that the problem is in fact neuronal, and Mőbius syndrome. In extremely elegant and visually fascinating assay systems her team was able to identify several disease genes including KIF21A and TUB3 that altered axon growth and guidance.  Elizabeth presented work on how the KIF21A protein interfaces with microtubule-based transport and how TUB3 impacts microtubule dynamics and the neuronal paths of specific cranial nerves involved in ocular movement.  Questions during the talk revolved around how mutations involved in eye movement might impact neuromuscular function beyond the eye.