Valina L. Dawson, Ph.D.
Administrative Accomplishments
As Director of the Neuroregeneration Program and Stem Cell Program Dr. Dawson promotes the development and success of the faculty, fellows, students, and staff. She serves as co-Chair for the Department of Neuroscience Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. As Vice Chair of Research and Chair of the Appointment and Promotions committee in Neurology she developed new programs and administrative structure to provide transparency and education of faculty, decrease time at rank for promotion and advocate for inclusion of women and diversity of faculty. She has chaired grant reviews for foundations and the NIH including serving as the first NIH K99/R00 study section chair supporting the advancement of fellows to faculty. As a conference organizer Dr. Dawson seeks speakers from diverse academic ranks and scientific approach. Her service on advisory boards for foundations, federal organizations, and prize committees has supported scientific excellence and medical advancement while advocating for diversity of scientists and scientific viewpoints.
Degree, Institute, Year Earned
| Degree | Institute | Year Earned |
| B.S. | University of California at Davis | 1984 |
| Ph.D. | University of Utah School of Medicine | 1989 |
Research Areas
Dr. Dawson’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of resilience to brain injury and the complex network of events that lead to neuronal dysfunction, neuronal loss and neurodegeneration.
Current Position(s) at Your Current Institution
- Director, Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering
- Professor, Departments of Neurology, the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Physiology Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Memberships
| Organization | Position Held | Year(s) |
| Society for Neuroscience | Member NSP Mentor Member - Program Committee Member - Achievement Awards Selection Committee Member - Professional Development Committee Member - Committee on Women in Neuroscience Member -Young Investigator Award Selection Committee |
1987-present 2016 2011-2014 2010-2012 2009-2011 2007-2009 2007-2008 |
| American Heart Association | Co-Chair, Brains Sciences 2 Study Section, National Mid-Atlantic Study Section Beginning Grant-in-Aid Study Section, National |
2004-2005 2001-2004 2001-2004 |
| International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism | Symposium Advisory Committee | 1997 |
Service Positions
Editorial Boards:
| Publication | Position Held | Year(s) |
| eNeuro | Advisory Board Member | 2017-2023 |
| Journal of Neuroscience | Senior Editor Reviewing Editor |
2010-2016 2003-2009 |
| Nitric Oxide | Editorial Advisory Board Member |
1996-present |
| Neurobiology of Disease | Associate Editor | 2000-present |
| Journal of Parkinson's Disease | Editorial Board Member | 2012-present |
| Journal of Molecular Medicine | Reviewing Editor | 2007-2017 |
| Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism | 2004-2009 |
Other Service Positions:
| Organization | Position Held | Year(s) |
| NIH NINDS | Chair - K99-R00 Review Panel Chair - Stroke Progress Review Group, Genomics/Proteomics section Chair - R35 Study Section Member and Chair, NSD-A Study Section |
2006-2012, 2018, 2019 2011 2016 2001-2004 (2003-2004 chair) |
| NIH/UC Davis |
NeuroMab Scientific Advisory Board |
2010-present |
| UAMRMC Military Operational Medicine Research Program | Steering Committee NETRP |
2006 |
| Keystone Symposia | Planning Committee Symposia Organizer and Chair |
2020-2021 2009, 2019 |
| Margolese Brain Adjudication Committee for Brain Disorders Prize | Selection Committee |
2021-2023 |
| New York Stem Cell Foundation | Advisory Board |
2009-present |
| Burke Neurologic Institute | Scientific Advisory Board | 2015-present |
| Brain Ischemia and Stroke Conference, Rome Italy | Advisory Board |
2008 |
| Terni Conference on Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke | President | 2004 |
| Princeton Conference on Stroke |
Advisory Board | 2002, 2004 |
| Winter Conference on Brain Research Advisory Board |
Advisory Board | 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| International Symposium on Pharmacology of Cerebral Ischemia | Advisory Board | 2002, 2004 |
| U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Institute Board of Trustees |
Fulbright International Science and Technology Award for Outstanding Foreign Students | 2009 |
Science Biography
Dr. Dawson’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of resilience to brain injury and the complex network of events that lead to neuronal dysfunction, neuronal loss, and neurodegeneration. She has deployed unbiased molecular approaches from differential display to the current single cell transcriptomics and multiple proteomic assays to discover proteins that promote neuronal survival. This led to insight into resilience and to how loss of function leads to neurologic disorders including epilepsy, stroke and neurodegeneration. In following the neurotoxic signaling events activated by nitric oxide, oxidative stress and ischemia, she defined the regulated cell death program, parthanatos. Dr. Dawson’s has studied the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), first in intoxication models and then she contributed to the study of genetic mutations linked to PD. She developed fly and mouse models and human neural cultures to discover the biologic activity of parkin, DJ-1 and LRRK2 and how mutations in these proteins results in neurodegeneration. These studies led to insight into a complex series of events from mitochondrial dysfunction, defects in mitochondrial biogenesis, defects in protein translation, activation of stress kinases and responses and ultimately activation of parthanatos. To expand her studies from rare causes of PD to more prevalent sporadic form of PD she has incorporated and innovated new mouse models of pathologic misfolded alpha synuclein, which is thought to be the main pathologic driver of PD. She has explored the route of pathologic synuclein transmission in the nervous system via engagement with the lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3) and developed a gut to brain pathologic synuclein transmission mouse model. In addition to motor deficits, this model reproduces many clinical features of PD including non-motor symptoms of anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, permitting the mechanistic investigation of the molecular underpinnings of these aspects of PD. In addition to neuronal dysfunction and loss, activation of innate immune responses in microglia and astrocytes is a critical driver of neurodegeneration. Activation of microglia and reactive astrocytes can be blocked by a GLP1 receptor agonist, NLY01, providing protection in mouse models of PD. Pathologic alpha synuclein is also involved in activation of the cGAS-STING pathway and induction of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Her lab is expanding the study of the drivers of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disease. To translate these basic science discoveries and advance them towards clinical therapies Dr. Dawson has partnered with Biotech and Pharma and has co-founded several companies with clinical trials underway for several therapeutic agents. Dr. Dawson’s trainees have populated all ranks of academia, corporate, consulting, government, or pharmaceutical and industry positions. Her trainees continue to advance basic and medical science with their discoveries and contributions. Collectively, her work is providing innovative insights into the pathogenesis of PD and stroke and are providing novel opportunities for therapies aimed at preventing the degenerative process of PD and other neurologic disorders.
The full CV for this candidate can be found within the ballot.
