Genetic Research Tools for the Study of the Lymphatic Vascular System

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About the speaker: Kathleen M. Caron, Ph.D. is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—a large, interdisciplinary basic science department currently ranked 2nd in the nation in NIH funding.  Prior to her role as Department Chair, Dr. Caron served as Assistant Dean for Research in the School of Medicine, where she and her colleagues launched a new Office of Research and a 5-year strategic plan.  Dr. Caron graduated from Emory University with a BS in Biology and a BA in Philosophy.  For her graduate work, she trained with Dr. Keith L. Parker in the Department of Cell Biology at Duke University where she elucidated the role of steroidogenesis in regulating sexual determination and adrenal and gonadal development using genetic mouse models.  To gain more experience in gene targeting approaches, Dr. Caron pursued her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies at UNC-CH, where she was the first to discover the essential role of adrenomedullin peptide for embryonic survival. Her laboratory currently uses sophisticated gene targeting approaches to model human disease in mice.  With a special emphasis on vascular biology, the Caron laboratory has gained valuable insights into the genetic basis and pathophysiology of lymphatic vascular disease, preeclampsia and sex-dependent cardiovascular disease.  Dr. Caron has received numerous awards including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, an Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association and a Jefferson Pilot Award in Biomedical Sciences.  She currently serves as an Associate Editor for the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation and holds numerous scientific advisory roles in academia, industry and the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Caron is an accomplished teacher and mentor, having served as an advisor to over 35 graduate, post-graduate and clinical trainees.  She is highly regarded for her impassioned drive for excellence and approach to individualized mentoring and career advising, as recognized by her participation in numerous symposia and articles related to professional development. Dr. Caron is married to Michael Datto, MD/PhD, Director of Clinical Laboratories for Duke Health Care System. They enjoy spending quality family time with their two school-aged children, Nicholas and Sophia.