معرفی
Andy Kehr serves as Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at DePauw University, conducting research on Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) - the leading cause of inherited optic neuropathy affecting 1 in 10,000-30,000 individuals.
His educational background includes:
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Structural Cell Biology at the National Institutes of Health
- PhD in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University
- BA in Biochemistry from DePauw University
Dr. Kehr's research investigates mitochondrial enzyme Opa1, which maintains membrane integrity and cellular energy production. With over 500 disease-causing mutations identified, his laboratory recreates mutant Opa1 variants using biochemical techniques to determine how specific mutations disrupt function and accelerate vision loss during adolescence. This work aims to establish mutation-specific disease progression models for ADOA.
His teaching encompasses advanced biochemistry, biomolecular structure, stoichiometry, and organic chemistry principles.
Notable recognitions include:
- ASBMB Early Career Travel Award (2025)
- Asher Fund grant (2024) for UV-Visible Spectrophotometer acquisition
- NASA Iowa Space Grant (2024) for DNA fluorimetry STEM education
- Dr. Scholl Foundation Award (2021)
- FUTURE in Biomedicine Fellow (2020) and Senior Fellow (2021)
Current grant activities focus on enhancing biochemical research capabilities and student STEM skill development through instrumentation acquisition and hands-on DNA analysis projects.
