About: Molecular biologist with 20 years’ experience in developing gene therapies for muscular dystrophy and neurological diseases, using both gene replacement and RNA interference (RNAi) strategies.

Education & Training:

Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI, 1996 BS in Biology
University of Michigan Medical School, 2002, Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, 2007, Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Interest: The Harper Lab is focused on developing RNAi-based treatments for dominantly inherited neuromuscular disorders.  We are also pursuing basic mechanistic studies related to two such disorders:  Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) and Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 1A (LGMD1A). We use a broad range of tools, including molecular techniques, biochemistry, viral vectors, and mouse models of disease.