Wallace, Margaret (Peggy)
Professor

Contact Information, Courses, Grants, Publications, etc.

The main project in the Wallace laboratory is the study of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common dominant condition characterized by overgrowth of neural crest tissues. This progressive condition is caused by mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor, a large complex gene whose protein is not well understood. We are using genetic and cell biology approaches to study this condition, using a large set of patient samples and data. Tumor-based projects focus on the neurofibroma (a benign Schwann cell tumor that can form on any peripheral nerve (including the gut)) and MPNST (malignant transformation of a neurofibroma associated with a large nerve/nerve bundle). The contributions of other tumor-related genes, such as PTEN and SUZ12, are under study at the germline and somatic levels. Current work involves creating and characterizing immortalized tumor Schwann cell lines, correlating this and clinical information with tumor immunohistochemistry, investigating mutation mechanisms, and phenotype-genotype analyses including within pedigrees.

The laboratory also studies the genetic aspects of multifactorial disorders, conditions that do usually do not show Mendelian inheritance but have a genetic susceptibility. This work involves detecting predisposing genetic variants, and following up on the underlying mechanisms. One such area is pain, including conditions such as fibromyalgia and development of post-surgical chronic pain.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow: Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Univ. of Michigan
Ph.D.: Indiana University, School of Medicine
B.S.: Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Citations

Awards, Professional Service

Co-Director, Biomedical Sciences Program concentration in Genetics.
UF Research Foundation Professorship.
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.
Indiana University John H. Edwards Graduate Fellowship.
American Fellowship, American Association of University Women.
Young Investigator Award, National Neurofibromatosis Foundation.
Postdoctoral Basic Research Award, American Society of Human Genetics.
Searle Scholar.
Ralph Vick Memorial Award, Natl. Neurofibromatosis Foundation–Florida Chapter.
Medical Humanitarian Award, Children’s Tumor Foundation.
Peer Review Committees: Children’s Tumor Foundation, American Heart Association, NIH, Department of Defense Army Medical Research Command.

Teaching Responsibilities

GMS 6012 Human Genetics (Director)
GMS 6015 Human Genetics II (Director)
GMS 6920 Genetics Journal club (co-director)
GMS 6065 Cancer Biology
GMS 6001 Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences
GMS 6224 Medical Molecular Genetics (Director)
BMS 6003 Genetics and Health