Leah Benedict Email & Phone Number

Brisbane, California, Us

Bethesda, Md, Us

The Venditti lab focuses on the rare metabolic disorder Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA), a pediatric disorder of metabolism that causes elevated organic acid levels and has a severe, multisystemic clinical phenotype. Patients with MMA experience frequent episodes of metabolic instability which can cause severe morbidity and early mortality. My work in the Venditti lab focuses on preclinical testing of new, gene therapy-based treatments for MMA. I work predominantly on preclinical murine studies of AAV gene therapy vectors which are potential candidates for clinical trials.

Frederick, Md, Us

Developed a remote learning course on Cell Structure and Function targeted at graduate students in the Biomedical Sciences program. Topics included cell structure, protein biology, cellular targeting and transport, cell signaling, basic metabolism, cell cycle, and an overview of cancer biology and cell therapy.

Aurora, Co, Us

I completed my dissertation in the Goodman lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. My work focused on four projects designed to further our understanding of Glutaric Acidemia type 1 (GA1). 1) I used deep sequencing of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) to understand the mutation spectrum of GA1 patients and search for novel mutations. 2) I performed exome sequencing on a family with 2-Ketoadipic Acidemia to identify a new gene target that could be used for future GA1 therapies. 3) I utilized immunohistochemistry to identify what occurs in the brains of GA1 patients following acute striatal necrosis. 4) I developed a model of reduced GCDH activity in the zebrafish to be used in future GA1 experiments. Upon completion of my dissertation in August 2017 I spent 6 months in the lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow to wrap up my projects.

Phd, Human Medical Genetics And Genomics

Ba, Molecular, Cellular And Developmental Biology