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SCIEnTIFIC ADvISoRy BoARD
DAvID E. HouSMAn, PHD
Ludwig Professor of Biology
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Medicine
Dr. David Housman uses genetic approaches to identify the molecular basis of human disease pathology. He develops strategies to combat three major diseases: trinucleotide repeat disorders like Huntington’s disease, cancer and types of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Housman’s research guided the search leading to the 1983 discovery of the HD marker, the first DNA marker ever for a genetic disease. This discovery led a group of scientists to find the HD gene itself in 1993. His current research focuses on identifying modifier genes which are responsible for variation in age of onset for HD in humans as well as in mouse models. His lab also focuses on the identification and development of small molecules which show promise for therapeutic intervention in HD.
Dr. Housman has received many prizes and awards. He has also founded and co-founded several pharmaceutical companies. He was the first recipient of the HDF’s Leslie Gehry Brenner Prize for Innovation in 2010.
