Amy Macrae Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

I help design and execute cutting edge research strategies to examine cord blood bank donated samples, and to test their safety. I conduct molecular biology / cellular biology research on cord blood samples. I am currently working collaboratively on screening a large number of blood samples in our inventory for a rare genetic marker that confers resistance to the HIV virus; these cord blood samples will be very useful in treating patients who are HIV+ positive. Participated in gaining FDA Licensure for the Saint Louis Cord Blood Bank in 2013.ST. LOUIS (June 27, 2013) – The St. Louis Cord Blood Bank at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center has received licensure approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and distribute cord blood-derived stem cell products, making it the first bank in the region and only the fourth in the world to earn this distinction.

Helped customers troubleshoot a variety of technical issues concerning all 50,000 Sigma products, for a company with over 2.1 billion in annual sales and over 1 million customers worldwide.* Worked in a call center that handles over 1 million calls per year.* Helped increase customer loyalty by increasing customer satisfaction.* Participant in Zinc Finger Composer Workshop at Sigma-Aldrich.

Prepared a U.S. patent and attempted to obtain monetary licensing agreements for the patent. Patent was issued in 2006. I am the sole inventor on the patent for regulating gene expression in a tobacco cell system.

Saint Louis, Mo, United States

Conducted research on Nipped A in Drosophila, IPA C expression in Arabidopsis, and on Sly’s disease in humans. Co- authored 1 publication In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Co- authored 4 publications, which had high impact and highly influential citations.

Cloning and expression of maize Activator (Ac) transposase in yeast, from a genomic clone: detection via Elisas, and proposed use in complementation studies. Cloning and expression of a His-tagged Shigella IpaC bacterial invasion protein in Arabidopsis. Molecular and genetic studies on the Tra1/TRRAP (Nipped A) genes, establishing an in vivo link between histone acetyl transferase (HAT) complexes and Notch signaling, in Drosophila. Demonstration that infused Fc-tagged beta-glucuronidase crosses the placenta and produces clearance of storage in utero in mucopolysaccharidosis VII mice.*Published five refereed papers, one in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.*Work on Fc-tagged beta-glucuronidase resulted in one patent being filed with USPTO.

Provided experimental evidence that the maize Activator (Ac) transposase can act on a non-transposable element promoter, to repress reporter gene expression in transient tobacco assays. These experiments lend support to Nobel-laureate Barbara McClintock's theory that transposable elements are “controlling elements” within genomes.*Published one refereed paper.*Work on Ac transposase resulted in one new patent being filed with USPTO.

Performed a molecular characterization of novel Spm transposable elements in maize. Characterized Activator-like transposable elements from Pennisetum glaucum, thereby demonstrating Ac elements are very old, within the grasses. Studied the sequence evolution of Ac and Ds1 elements within the grasses. Made a preliminary characterization of Pgr-1, a methylated retrotransposon sequence in pearl millet. Cloned and characterized a pentamer-containing DNA sequence from Texas Bluebonnet. Performed an analysis of hexamer and pentamer motifs within a maize database, and found the presence of motif “signatures” within functional gene categories, suggesting a function for such motifs.*Published 11 refereed papers from 1992-1999.*Taught Genetics lecture and laboratory to classes of over 100 students.*Mentored 35 undergraduate students in my research laboratory.*Obtained federal and private grant funding.*Taught molecular evolution to graduate students.*Served on two Ph.D. committees*Gave invited seminar at Plant Biosystematics meetings.*Received Dr. George Washington Carver award for outstanding Biology contributions.*Reviewed grants for National Science Foundation.*Reviewed papers for Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.*Attended six national or international meetings.*Had one Master's Degree student graduate, under my guidance.

Molecular Evolution; Alfred P. Sloan Postdoctoral Fellowship

Ph.D., Genetics

Activities and Societies: I received a PhD degree in genetics in 1988 from the University of Georgia in Athens. I presented my work.

M.S, Marine Science

B.S, Zoology

Education record