Melanie B. Gillingham

Melanie B. Gillingham is a Professor in Molecular and Medical Genetics at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), leading the Gillingham Lab. She specializes in metabolic disorders, particularly long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs), focusing on LCHADD (Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency). Her research integrates clinical studies, cell culture models, and mouse models to investigate retinopathy, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias in LCHADD patients. She co-directs genetic mechanisms courses and teaches nutrition epidemiology and research. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at OHSU. Her lab collaborates on clinical trials evaluating treatments like oral ketones and gene therapy.

Education:

• B.F.A. and B.S., Texas Christian University (1990)
• M.S., University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (1992)
• Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, OHSU (2001–2006)

Research Focus:

• LCHADD-associated retinopathy and cardiac complications
• Gene therapy and cell models (iPSC-derived RPE cells)
• Clinical trials for FAOD therapies
• Nutritional interventions and metabolic control

Awards:

• 2023 Emmanuel Shapira Award

Lab Team & Mentorship: Mentors master’s and PhD students in genetics and nutrition. Current lab members include Lauren Ahmann (PhD candidate) and Hak Chung (postdoc), with former members like Shannon Babcock (PhD, 2024).

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with OHSU’s Molecular and Medical Genetics department and industry partners like Nestlé Health Science for ketone trials. The lab is part of initiatives like the Type 1 Diabetes and Exercise Initiative.