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Julie Korenberg, Ph.D., Circuits of the Brain
Julie R. Korenberg, Ph.D., M.D joined The Brain Institute at the University of Utah and the Department of Pediatrics as a USTAR Professor in early 2008.
In May 2009, Nature published a paper she co-authored about the genetic basis of the low incidence of solid cancer tumors in Down Syndrome patients. This research holds promise for future developments in fighting cancer in the general population. A Salt Lake City TV station posted an interview with her on the topic.
In July 2009, the National Academy of the Sciences published a paper on the highest resolution genetic map of the Down Syndrome genome to date, representing decades of Korenberg's work. The map points the way to treatments of congenital heart disease, leukemia and other conditions. Read the full text of the paper here.
A leader in the molecular genetics of mental retardation, Dr. Korenberg has dedicated her career to better understanding the causes of Down Syndrome and Williams Syndrome, to facilitate development of better treatments and prevention methods. In addition, her team studies brain mechanisms that underlie the formation of strong human relationships ("affiliative behavior") and is investigating the development of drugs that modulate brain circuits involved in these behaviors. Dr. Korenberg's work currently is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the McDonnell Foundation.
Dr. Korenberg comes to Utah from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and the Geri & Richard Brawerman Chair of Molecular Genetics. She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from the University of Wisconsin and her M.D. from the University of Miami School of Medicine.
In addition to the key senior scientists hired to date, many key researchers have relocated to Utah with the PI, and are actively participating in research activities within the USTAR focus areas. Additional junior faculty and staff positions are currently being recruited to complete these teams and will likely be filled within the next year.