About
Dr. Melissa Spencer is a Professor of Neurology at UCLA. Dr. Spencer’s research expertise is in the area of pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy using genetically modified mouse models. She has had a career long interest in pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy (DMD and LGMD) and has extensive experience in generating and phenotyping genetically modified mouse models (transgenic, knock out and knock in models).
A particular strength of the Spencer lab is the longitudinal and multidisciplinary approach used to study these muscular dystrophies that ranges from the generation of genetically modified mice to use of biochemical, cell biological, immunological and functional approaches for analyzing phenotypic outcomes.
One of these studies was carried into two clinical trials at UCLA, in which Dr. Spencer was the principal investigator, with Dr. Fowler who was a co-investigator; thus, the researchers at the UCLA MDCRC are truly performing "bench-to-bedside translational research". Dr. Spencer was the recipient of a PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award For Scientists and Engineers) in 2001.
She has participated in numerous NIH advisory committees including as a regular standing member of the SMEP study section and she is currently on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Dr. Spencer brings a strong translational research perspective to the Center for the application of HTS and Genomic approaches to muscular dystrophy research.