Cynthia T. McMurray, Ph.D.

08:39:57:552
Photo of Cynthia McMurray T., Ph.D.
08:39:57:552
Cynthia T. McMurray, Ph.D.
Location: Minnesota
  • Primary Appointment
  • Pharmacology
  • Joint Appointment
  • Biochemistry
  • Academic Rank
  • Professor of Biochem/Molecular Biology
  • Professor of Pharmacology
08:39:57:568 08:39:57:615

Summary

Cause and effects of DNA instability in human disease.

More than ten neurodegenerative diseases and cancer are associated with DNA instability. My laboratory investigates:

  1. how DNA is unstably transmitted
  2. why expanded proteins cause disease
  3. discovery of novel disease genes that are expanded

The ultimate goal of the research is to develop pharmacological and molecular approaches for cures. Special focus is placed on diseases which demonstrate neurodegenerative/neuropsychiatric phenotype and/or cancer predisposition including Huntington's Disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxias, schizophrenia, and Ataxia Telangiectasia. We are trying to understand what signaling mechanisms in neurons result in neuronal death. We aim to block these pathways for prevention of neurodegeneration and harness these pathways for killing cancer cells.

Recent publications

See a listing of my publications

Education

Post Doctoral Fellowship – Dr. Edward Herbert and Dr. James Douglass
Vollum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research, Oregon Health Sciences University

Ph.D. – Biophysics and Biochemistry. Dr. K.E. van Holde, Professor
Oregon State University

M.S. – Chemistry. Dr. David Wilson
Georgia State University

B.S. – Biology
Boston University


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