Miriam Meisler has spent four decades studying the genetics of mice.
For Meisler and her lab, the small rodents represent a pathway for understanding and treating neurological diseases in humans.
As professor of human genetics and neurology, Meisler has spent her career studying the similarities between human and mouse genes. In her inaugural lecture as the Myron Levine Distinguished University Professor of Human Genetics, Meisler will discuss recent progress in mouse and human genetics and future opportunities to advance the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.
The lecture, titled “The Human Genome and the Search for Neurological Disease Genes,” is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 4 in Rackham Amphitheatre, and is followed by a reception in Assembly Hall. The Distinguished University Professorship is the highest honor given to faculty at U-M.
“The pace of human genetics research and advancement during the last 20 years has been incredible,” Meisler says. “With the introduction of whole genome and exome sequencing for individual patients, within the next few years I think we will understand the genetic basis for many more neurological and psychiatric diseases.”
The human genome is comprised of about 20,000 protein-coding genes, and all but 300 of those have counterparts in mice, making the rodent a good animal model for human genetic research. Meisler and her lab study the similarities between mice and humans, identifying mutations responsible for genetic diseases and paving the way for new diagnostic and treatment options.
Meisler’s decades of work has placed her at the forefront of human genetic research. She discovered that mutations in sodium channel genes are a primary cause of neurological disorders such as epilepsy. Mouse models also led to the discovery and evaluation of candidate genes for the neurodegenerative disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth, which can lead to paralysis.
Meisler says her lecture will highlight examples from her lab that demonstrate the use of mouse genetics for human health research.
“All of our research strategies take advantage of the biological similarities between the mouse and human genomes,” she says. “Mice can have seizures, they can become paralyzed. The genomes are nearly identical in terms of content. It’s a powerful model.”
During her career, Meisler has published more than 170 research articles in top journals such as Science and Nature. In addition, she has served on the editorial boards of Mammalian Genome and Genome Research, and as associate editor of Genomics.
Meisler joined the Department of Human Genetics in 1977. Since then, she has served as department chair and as associate dean for research, while also helping 30 predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows complete their research in her lab.
Meisler says she named her distinguished professorship after Myron Levine, professor emeritus of human genetics, whose work and leadership were inspiring to colleagues and students.
“He was an outstanding scientist and educator,” Meisler says. “I want to pay tribute to his guidance and inspiration.”
