Susan K. Dutcher, PhD, a professor of genetics as well as cell biology and physiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is among 120 newly elected members, including 30 international members, to the National Academy of Sciences, honoring her exceptional and ongoing contributions to innovative research. Being elected to the academy is regarded as one of the highest accolades bestowed upon a scientist or engineer in the United States.
Throughout her professional journey, Dutcher has enhanced scientists’ comprehension of the architecture and function of cilia. These thread-like structures on cell surfaces perform like antennas to interpret signals vital for development and survival, and rhythmically beat to eliminate potentially harmful pathogens. Malfunctions in cilia or the structure anchoring them to cells, known as the basal body, can lead to chronic kidney and lung disorders, congenital heart malformations, and various other health issues.
“Susan Dutcher’s innovative contributions in genetics, cell biology, and genomics have brought her international acclaim as a pioneer in her discipline,” stated David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor, and the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Susan for this acknowledgment from the National Academy of Sciences—an honor that signifies the significance and influence of her research. Her findings are deepening our understanding of how numerous human ailments arise and paving the way for novel treatment options.”
Through trailblazing research, Dutcher has identified a variety of genes necessary for the construction and proper functioning of cilia in the green alga Chlamydomonas, a model organism, along with their equivalents in humans. In 2004, she developed a computational, comparative genomics method that uncovered a substantial array of previously unidentified cilia and basal body genes. Dutcher discovered that these genes are linked to human diseases collectively known as ciliopathies, arising from cilia dysfunction. Collaborating with colleagues at WashU Medicine, she has facilitated the structural analysis of cilia to achieve atomic resolution of several protein complexes.
Her research has established a groundwork for enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ciliopathies, including polycystic kidney disease, which is currently managed with dialysis; primary ciliary dyskinesia, leading to chronic lung issues, organ misplacement, and infertility; Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which causes childhood blindness along with diabetes, kidney disorders, and severe obesity; and numerous congenital heart anomalies, which occur due to disrupted left-right asymmetry and necessitate complex surgeries for correction.
Dutcher, who became part of the WashU Medicine faculty in 1999, is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Cell Biology, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She received the 2019 George Engelmann Interdisciplinary Award from the Academy of Science-St. Louis, along with the 2018 Distinguished Investigator and 2017 Distinguished Educator awards from WashU Medicine. Dutcher was also a Searle Scholar and has been honored with the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Award to Women Scientists and Engineers. She served as the chair of the Department of Genetics from 2006-09 and directed the McDonnell Genome Center from 2016-18.
Dutcher completed a bachelor’s degree in biology with honors from Colorado College. She subsequently earned her doctorate in genetics from the University of Washington, where she trained under Leland Hartwell, PhD, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001. Prior to her tenure at WashU Medicine, she conducted her postdoctoral studies at Rockefeller University and was a professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
About Washington University School of Medicine
WashU Medicine is a prominent institution in academic medicine, encompassing biomedical research, patient care, and educational initiatives with 2,900 faculty members. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio ranks second among U.S. medical schools and has increased by 56% over the last seven years. In conjunction with institutional investments, WashU Medicine allocates over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovations and training. Its faculty practice consistently ranks within the top five nationally, with over 1,900 practicing physicians across 130 locations, who also serve as the medical staff for Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals under BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine possesses a rich history in MD/PhD training and has recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, along with offering superior training programs across all medical subspecialties, as well as in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communication sciences.
Originally published on the WashU Medicine website
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