Amy Merrill-Brugger

Dr. Amy Merrill-Brugger is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern California (USC). Her research focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal development and congenital disorders, particularly craniofacial abnormalities and skeletal dysplasias. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from USC in 2005 and completed postdoctoral training at UCSF and UCLA/Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, 2005
• Bachelor of Science (BS), details not specified

Research Interests: Dr. Merrill’s work bridges clinical and basic science to study rare skeletal disorders such as Bent Bone Dysplasia Syndrome, Short-rib Polydactyly Syndrome, and craniosynostosis. Her lab investigates signaling pathways (e.g., FGF, BMP, TGFβ), genetic mutations, and cellular processes involved in bone and cartilage formation. Recent projects include analyzing nucleolar stress in skeletal disorders and developing mouse models for disease mechanisms.

Awards:

• USC Mentoring Award for Faculty Mentoring Graduate Students (2022)
• Marylou Buyse Excellence in Craniofacial Research Award (2019)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Merrill mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in skeletal genetics. Her lab has contributed to studies on ribosome biogenesis, cranial neural crest cell biology, and musculoskeletal integration. She collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving genetic modeling and clinical applications.

Labs & Teams: She leads the Merrill Lab, part of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at USC. The lab integrates molecular genetics, developmental biology, and clinical research to advance therapies for skeletal birth defects.