Valina L. Dawson facts for kids
Valina L. Dawson, born on August 5, 1961, is an American scientist who studies the brain. She leads important programs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that focus on how brain cells can repair themselves and how stem cells work. She also teaches in departments like Neurology and Neuroscience.
About Valina L. Dawson
Valina Dawson grew up in the beautiful Sonoma Valley in California, known for its vineyards. She went to the University of California, Davis and earned her first degree in 1983. She studied how chemicals affect the environment. Later, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine. Her Ph.D. focused on how medicines and harmful substances affect the body.
After her Ph.D., Dr. Dawson continued her training at the University of Pennsylvania. She also trained at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 1994, she joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She started as an assistant professor in departments like Neurology and Neuroscience.
By 2001, she became an associate professor. She also helped new faculty members in the Neurology department. In the same year, she became a full professor. In 2002, she started the Neuroregeneration Program. This program studies how nerves can regrow or repair themselves. In 2009, she also became the director of the Stem Cell Program. This program explores how special "stem cells" can be used to treat diseases.
Dr. Dawson has also served on important committees for the Society for Neuroscience. She helped review and edit scientific papers for their journals, like the Journal of Neuroscience. She also advises other scientific groups and was a founder of some companies that work on new treatments.
Discoveries in Brain Health
Dr. Dawson works closely with her husband, Dr. Ted M. Dawson. Their research focuses on understanding why brain cells die in diseases like Parkinson's disease. They also study cell death after a stroke or brain injury.
They found that a gas called nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role. It can cause brain cells to die in certain situations. They also discovered that another molecule, peroxynitrite, is involved in this process. Their work showed that a protein called PARP is also important in this chain of events.
One of their big discoveries was about a molecule called PAR. They found that PAR helps cause cell death by releasing another molecule called AIF from parts of the cell called mitochondria. This process leads to the cell's DNA breaking apart. To describe this specific way cells die, they named it Parthanatos. This name combines PAR with Thanatos, the Greek god of death.
They also found a natural protector against Parthanatos called Iduna. This discovery could help in finding new ways to stop brain cells from dying. Another discovery was Thorase, a protein that helps brain cells learn and remember. Changes in Thorase have been found in people with schizophrenia.
Dr. Dawson's team also studies genetic changes that cause rare forms of Parkinson's disease. They found that a protein called parkin, which is often inactive in Parkinson's patients, is important for keeping brain cells healthy. They also discovered that another protein, DJ-1, when not working properly, can harm mitochondria in brain cells.
Their research on LRRK2, another protein linked to Parkinson's, showed that too much activity of this protein can be harmful. Stopping this extra activity might protect brain cells. They also found that a protein called alpha-synuclein, which builds up in Parkinson's, can spread in the brain.
Recently, they discovered that a medicine called NLY01 can protect brain cells in Parkinson's disease. It does this by stopping harmful inflammation in the brain. Dr. Dawson's work continues to provide important insights into Parkinson's disease. Her research helps find new ways to treat patients. She has published over 400 scientific papers.
Awards and Honors
- Debrecen Award for Molecular Medicine (2019)
- Distinguished Professorship, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China
- Daniel Nathans Innovator Award
- Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher and Worlds Most Influential Minds
- Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association (F.A.H.A.)
- Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Elected to the American Neurological Association, Fellow
- Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award
- Potter Lectureship, Thomas Jefferson University
- Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience American Academy of Neurology
