Dr. Ranum is a Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Director of the Center for Neurogenetics at the University of Florida. She uses gene discovery and mouse models to understand neurologic and neuromuscular diseases. Her laboratory identified the DM2 and spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) expansion mutations and has developed mouse models of these diseases. In 2006, her group demonstrated that the expansion mutations in SCA8, which has a mutation similar to DM1 and DM2, produces RNAs in both directions. In 2011 her group discovered that a cellular signal that scientists previously though was required for cells to make proteins does not apply to expansion mutations and that expansion mutations can express unexpected mutant proteins in all three reading frames. Additionally, her group and other groups have shown that RAN proteins accumulate in patient tissues in several diseases, including SCA8, DM1 and C9orf72 ALS/FTD, FXTAS. Dr. Ranum's group is now focused on understanding the mechanisms of RAN translation and the impact of RAN proteins in myotonic dystrophy and other neurological diseases. More information on Dr. Ranum can be found on the University of Florida website.