Peter Todd

Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D., serves as the Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he leads a research program focused on nucleotide repeat expansion disorders. His laboratory investigates how unstable DNA repeats cause neurological diseases through RNA-mediated toxicity and aberrant translation mechanisms, with particular emphasis on RAN translation in conditions including Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), ataxia, and CANVAS.

Dr. Todd's research explores how repetitive genomic elements—constituting over half of human DNA—influence normal gene function and disease pathogenesis. His lab employs molecular genetics, neurobiological tools, and long-read sequencing approaches to study how RNA repeats sequester proteins and initiate non-canonical translation of toxic proteins without AUG start codons. Recent work has expanded into defining the native roles of repetitive elements in mRNA transcription and translation, with implications for common disease genetics.

Analysis of Todd's 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on mechanistic neurobiology of repeat expansion disorders, with recurring themes in RAN translation regulation, TDP-43 pathology, and advanced genomic detection methods. His work bridges fundamental molecular insights with clinical applications, evident in studies on biomarker development (e.g., skin FMRpolyG measurement) and diagnostic yield in ataxia clinics.

As a physician-scientist, Todd emphasizes the bench-to-bedside research model, combining clinical neurology with molecular investigation. His lab actively recruits researchers through the University of Michigan's world-class institutional framework, supporting next-generation scientists through collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. The Todd Lab's mission explicitly includes developing therapeutics for repeat expansion disorders while fostering future scientific leaders.