Cynthia Kelm-Nelson, PhD, Director of Biological Sciences and senior scientist III in the Department of Surgery, was recently awarded the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Dean’s Research Staff Award. Dr. Kelm-Nelson was one of just four scientists in SMPH to be honored in the inaugural year of the awards.
The SMPH Dean’s Research Staff Awards honor outstanding contributions by research staff working in research laboratories. Award recipients are distinguished by their commitment to professional development, personal growth and continuous learning, efforts to enhance the quality, rigor, and transparency of data and research processes, dedication to supporting trainees through innovative approaches, and meaningful contributions to advancing SMPH’s unique research strengths or addressing areas of emerging need.
Dr. Kelm-Nelson’s most current NIH-funded research is focused on defining gaps in knowledge in the neuroanatomical tracing of biochemistry in vocalization pathways, the alterations in gene expression within the brain, vocal fold muscle, and blood that result in characteristic gene expression signatures that may constitute early Parkinson disease biomarkers, and the identification and repurposing of FDA approved drugs that have therapeutic effects for vocal communication deficits. The results of this research will ultimately lead to an increased understanding of the onset of behavioral phenotypes, sex differences, neuropathology, and substrates of vocal communication deficits in Parkinson disease, as well as new targeted drug treatment options.
Dr. Kelm-Nelson received a $1,000 award in honor of her achievements and was recognized for this award at SMPH Collaborate on Nov. 7. SMPH Collaborate is an event series that fosters connections among investigators, researchers and learners thorough the sharing of research discoveries and building of community.