Paul Valdmanis, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Genetics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. His lab works to uncover the genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases and gene therapy techniques for therapeutic intervention. He has made important genetic discoveries including identifying mutations in the TAR-DNA binding protein (TARDBP) in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. He has also worked extensively to establish methods to safely and efficiently reduce target genes through use of adeno-associated viral delivery of small hairpin RNAs and identified a mechanism by which small hairpin RNAs compete with endogenous microRNAs in the liver.
