Madelynn is an NSF Graduate Research fellow pursuing a PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Her primary research focuses on engineering novel gene editing approaches to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and reverse metabolic disease-causing mutations. She aspires to pioneer the development of gene editing therapies, hoping to translate them as the next form of personalized medicine.

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As a California native, Madelynn earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley, with a primary research focus on cardiovascular science at the Gladstone Institute of UCSF. After graduation, she pursued a post-baccalaureate research position at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she specialized in characterizing novel engineered CRISPR-Cas9 variant proteins.

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When she's not in the lab, you'll find Madelynn on the beach volleyball court, rollerblading along the Philadelphia Schuylkill River trail, or enjoying a sitcom episode (or two).

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HEALTHCARE ADVANCEMENT YOU HOPE TO SEE IN YOUR LIFETIME

I hope to witness two major advancements:

1 - The development and translation of personalized medicine for Mendelian genetic disorders, allowing for immediate treatment after birth or, in cases where symptoms manifest during fetal development, in utero intervention.

2 – Complete understanding of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) through accurate mechanistic insights, the development of reliable AD biomarkers usable in routine primary care appointments, and the creation of effective treatments or cures applicable in the disease’s early stages.

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GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

Earning authorship on a paper published in Science right after college was a monumental effort and a notable achievement on paper. In a non-traditional sense: creating a music video to recruit grad students for my previous lab, set to the tune of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

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MOST INFLUENTIAL CONTENT READ LAST YEAR

This past spring, Julia Vitarello delivered a powerful and intimate talk to a select audience of leading gene editors and their students. She is a remarkable mother who, despite not having formal scientific training, single-handedly developed an ASO therapy for her daughter who died from Batten Disease in 2021.

Julia navigated the complexities of the FDA to obtain special approval for her precision drug tailored to her daughter’s disease-causing mutation. Julia’s talk emphasized that every patient, regardless of the rarity of their mutation, deserves efforts towards finding a therapeutic solution.