David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, recipient of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Research Program Award
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recently launched the Research Program Award (RPA) to provide longer-term support and increased flexibility to investigators with outstanding records of research achievement and a demonstrated ability to make major contributions to neuroscience.
David H. Gutmann, MD, PhD, the Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor and Director of the Washington University NF Center was awarded one of these highly competitive grants to further his work on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie brain dysfunction in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Specifically, Dr. Gutmann plans to employ a variety of experimental approaches to determine why children with NF1 develop brain tumors, as well as learning and behavioral problems. He hopes that the insights from these high-risk studies will lead to new ways to identify children most at risk for these problems and more effective therapies for affected children.
This greater funding stability will provide Dr. Gutmann with increased freedom to pursue research directions that break new ground and move previous discoveries in new directions.