Laura Ranum, PhD, FANA
University of Florida
Laura Ranum, PhD, FANA, is a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at the University of Florida. Her lab discovered that a novel category of proteins are produced from repeat expansion mutations without canonical AUG-initiation codons. These toxic, repeat-associated, non-AUG (RAN) proteins have now been found in 18 neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ataxia and Alzheimer’s disease. Mechanistic insights from her work have identified novel therapeutic strategies to treat RAN protein disorders and have led to a clinical trial for ALS.