Meyer Named Searle Scholar for 2018

Kate D. Meyer, PhD, an assistant professor of biochemistry at Duke University School of Medicine, has been named a Searle Scholar for 2018 for her work exploring how RNA regulatory pathways control gene expression in the brain.

The award will provide her with research support of $100,000 annually for three years. Meyer is one of 15 individuals from 14 different institutions this year to receive recognition as Searle Scholars. The Searle Scholars Program supports high risk/high reward research across a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines by making grants to selected universities to advance the research of exceptional young faculty in the biomedical sciences and chemistry who have recently been appointed as assistant professors on a tenure-track appointment.

Meyer studies how an RNA modification called m6A controls protein expression in neuronal synapses. Her research sheds light on neural processes important to brain functions such as memory and learning.

“This grant will be extremely helpful in enabling my research,” said Meyer. “But the most important effect of the Searle Award is that it puts me within the network of other Searle Scholars, of whom we have a number here at Duke. That opens the door to sharing ideas and feedback and suggesting new research avenues.”

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