I am a physician scientist who studies inherited neurological disorders and a board-certified neurologist with specialty training in Movement Disorders and Neurogenetics. My lab studies nucleotide repeat expansion disorders, including work on Fragile X-associated disorders, C9orf72-associated ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia, Cerebellar Ataxia with Neuropathy and Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome (CANVAS), Huntington's Disease and Myotonic Dystrophy. We use drosophila, mice and cell based (including human inducible pluripotent stem cells) model systems to explore the mechanisms underlying these diseases with a goal of developing novel therapeutics. We also explore novel means by which repetitive elements influence native neuronal function and contribute to common neurological conditions.

Clinically, I see patients with inherited neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's Disease, Dementia, and Ataxia. I direct both the University of Michigan Fragile X Clinic and our Multidisciplinary Ataxia Clinic while also seeing patients and teaching residents and medical students at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. Administratively, I serve as Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Neurology at Michigan where I play active roles in faculty recruitment and retention, promotion, clinical trial infrastructure and help guide our department’s overall research strategy.