Council Dates: October 2008 - May 2009
Independent Position: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University
Debra Silver was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Genetic Diseases Research Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute Intramural Program. In the laboratory of William Pavan, her research focused on advancing our understanding of neural stem cell regulation, neural development, and the mechanism by which brain size is regulated. More specifically, she studied the exon junction complex, an RNA-binding complex wherein mutations may compromise neural stem cell function. This knowledge would help to inform both a necessary foundation for developing diagnostic options, and therapeutic treatments for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from Johns Hopkins Medical School, and her B.S. in Biology from Tufts University.