Elaine Bearer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elaine L. Bearer
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Elaine Bearer in 2022.
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| Born |
Elaine Louise Bearer
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Manhattan School of Music (BM) New York University (MA) UCSF (MD PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
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| Institutions | University of New Mexico, California Institute of Technology, Marine Biological Laboratory |
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| Doctoral advisor | Daniel S. Friend |
| Other academic advisors | Jan LaRue, Lelio Orci, Bruce Alberts, Charlie Epstein |
Elaine L. Bearer is a multi-talented American who is both a scientist and a musical composer. As a scientist, she is a neuroscientist and pathologist, which means she studies the brain and diseases. As a musician, she writes music for orchestras and choirs.
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Education and Early Life
Elaine Bearer has a unique educational background in both music and science. She earned a music degree from the famous Manhattan School of Music. Before that, she studied music in Paris with the well-known teacher Nadia Boulanger.
After her music studies, she became interested in science. She went on to earn both a medical degree (MD) and a research degree (PhD) from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This combination of degrees allowed her to both treat patients and conduct scientific research.
A Career in Science and Teaching
After finishing her education, Dr. Bearer worked at several top universities. She was a professor at Brown University for many years. In 2009, she moved to the University of New Mexico, where she became a professor and the Vice Chair for Research in the Pathology department.
She is also a visiting scientist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a high honor for scientists.
Discoveries About the Brain and Body
Dr. Bearer has made many important discoveries throughout her career. Her research has helped us understand how our bodies and brains work at a tiny, cellular level.
How Cells Work
Early in her career, Dr. Bearer was one of the first scientists to take detailed pictures of special fatty areas on the outside of cells. These areas, called lipid rafts, are important for helping brain cells send messages to each other.
She also discovered proteins that control how tiny fibers, called actin, grow inside our cells. These proteins are very important for many body functions, including hearing. Her work helped show that problems with one of these proteins can lead to inherited deafness.
Understanding Brain Diseases
Dr. Bearer used the herpes virus as a tool to study how materials are transported inside brain cells. She discovered that a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, called amyloid precursor protein (APP), helps move things along the long nerve fibers in our brains. This discovery has given scientists important clues about how Alzheimer's disease might develop.
Using MRI to See the Brain in Action
In 2004, Dr. Bearer began using a powerful technology called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the brains of living animals. Working with other scientists, she helped develop a special type of MRI that uses a safe substance called manganese. This technique, known as MEMRI, allows them to see brain connections and activity over time.
Using MEMRI, she has studied the brains of mice that have conditions similar to human disorders like Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. This research helps scientists see how these diseases change the brain and test new treatments.
A Life in Music
Besides her work in science, Elaine Bearer is an accomplished composer. She has written many pieces of music that have been performed by orchestras, choirs, and musicians across the country. She has held teaching positions in music at both Brown University and the University of New Mexico.
Some of her musical works include:
- An orchestra piece called Ah-tosh-mit Overture, written for the 125th anniversary of UCSF.
- A long piece for singers and orchestra called the Magdalene Passion.
- A piano concerto titled Ode to the White Crown Sparrow.
- A piece for chorus and string quartet called L'alma rapita.
Her music has been recognized with awards, and a CD of her compositions was released by Albany Records. Her ability to succeed in both the demanding worlds of scientific research and musical composition makes her a truly remarkable person.
