Susan Iannaccone

Dr. Susan Iannaccone is a Professor and Co-Investigator at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, with a focus on neuromuscular disorders in children. She has held leadership roles, including Director of Pediatric Neurology (2004–2016) and Associate Director of the NIH-funded Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center. Her research centers on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with pioneering contributions to clinical trial design and outcome measures. As site-PI for numerous trials, she has established reliable protocols for SMA and DMD, influencing global standards. She also chairs panels for Common Data Elements in neuromuscular diseases and advises patient advocacy groups like Cure SMA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Her work includes validating motor function outcomes for SMA through international collaborations and advancing gene therapy trials. She leads MDA-sponsored clinics, treating nearly all North Texas children diagnosed with SMA/DMD. Over 20 trainees under her mentorship now hold academic positions. Her research integrates clinical care, genetics, and translational science to improve treatment strategies for neuromuscular disorders.