Margaret Wallace, Ph.D.
Professor
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

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Neurofibromatosis 1
The major focus of Dr. Wallace's research lab continues to be NF1, as it is a very complex condition clinically and at the molecular/cell biology level. Her lab is trying to determine the pathways involved in NF1 tumor formation (such as neurofibromas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, and myeloid leukemia), to help develop targeted therapies. This has involved numerous strategies including use of genetically engineered mouse models, cultured tumor cells, protein analysis, and analysis of the NF1 and modifier genes for constitutional and somatic mutations. In addition, her lab is applying molecular genetic and cell biology approaches to study other conditions with a genetic basis, both of Mendelian and multifactorial inheritance. Examples of current and recent projects include restrictive and dilated cardiomyopathy, chronic pain conditions, dog cataracts, autism, skeletal dysplasia, and vitiligo. The goals of these projects are to identify new disease genes, and study the cellular mechanisms behind mutations/variants that contribute to these conditions. She collaborates with many investigators at the University of Florida and elsewhere. 		Status:
Possibly Accepting New Students This Year

Contact Information:
office: RG-293
lab: RG-285
phone: 352-392-3055
email: peggyw@ufl.edu
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Biography:
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Wallace received her Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1987. She spent 4 years as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Francis Collins at the University of Michigan, leading his team that cloned the NF1 (neurofibromatosis 1) disease gene in 1990. She joined the faculty of the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1991, and is now a Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. Dr. Wallace has received several honors, including a Searle Scholarship, UFRF Research Professorship, the Vick Award from the Children's Tumor Foundation, and an Exemplary Teacher Award in 2004. She chairs grant review committees for two foundations, and is an ad hoc NIH/DOD grant reviewer. Dr. Wallace has graduated 7 Ph.D. students, and mentored 6 postdoctoral fellows. Her lab has been continuously funded by federal and private research grants since 1992, and is internationally known for its work in NF1.

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