Elizabeth M McNally

Elizabeth M McNally is the Director of the Center for Genetic Medicine and the Elizabeth J. Ward Professor of Genetic Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. She serves as a Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics.

Education:

• MD and PhD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1990)
• Residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Fellowships in Cardiovascular Medicine and Genetics

Research Interests: McNally investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying inherited cardiovascular and neuromuscular disorders, including heart failure, cardiomyopathy, muscular dystrophy, and arrhythmias. Her work focuses on gene editing, membrane repair, and disease modeling using induced pluripotent stem cells and computational genomics.

Publications & Research Trends: Her recent studies explore gene-gene interactions, inflammation in muscle diseases, and therapeutic strategies such as antisense exon skipping, LTBP4 modulation, and polygenic risk score implementation. These span genetic medicine, cardiovascular biology, and translational therapeutics.

Scientific Awards:

• Walder Award (2023)
• National Academy of Medicine member (2021)
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2021)
• American Heart Association Medal of Honor (2020)
• Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award (2007)

Leadership & Service: She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, President of the Association of American Physicians, and on scientific advisory boards for Muscular Dystrophy Association and Tenaya Therapeutics. Her team advances genomic therapies for muscle and heart disorders.