Vernon R Sutton

Dr. Vernon R Sutton, M.D. is a full-time Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, where he also serves as Vice Chair for Graduate Medical Education. He is the Medical Director of Biochemical Genetics at Baylor Genetics and directs the Medical Genetics Residency & Fellowship Programs at BCM. Additionally, he directs the Inborn Errors of Metabolism Service at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Education:

• B.A. from Transylvania University, Kentucky (1988)
• M.D. from University of Kentucky College of Medicine (1992)
• Residency: Pediatrics, Washington University Affiliate Hospitals (1996)
• Fellowship: Medical Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine (1999)

Research Interests:

Dr. Sutton’s research is anchored in clinical genetics and biochemical genetics, with a strong emphasis on gene discovery, genotype–phenotype correlations, and metabolomics. He has defined the phenotypic spectra for numerous syndromes including Robinow, White-Sutton, Aicardi, Goltz, and osteogenesis imperfecta. His laboratory was the first in the world to offer large-scale clinical metabolomic profiling, revolutionizing the screening and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism. As Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium, he leads longitudinal multicenter studies of osteogenesis imperfecta, integrating patient-reported outcomes, imaging, molecular diagnostics, and therapeutic trials.

Research Trends in Recent Publications:

Across his 15 most recent papers, Dr. Sutton consistently bridges deep phenotyping with cutting-edge omics technologies. Topics span untargeted metabolomics for metabolic disease screening, skeletal phenotyping in Robinow syndrome, patient-centered outcome measures for osteogenesis imperfecta, and mechanistic dissection of WNT signaling perturbations. His work highlights a translational pipeline that moves from bedside observation to bench discovery and back to improved clinical care.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• American Board of Medical Genetics & Genomics – Certified in Clinical Genetics
• American Board of Medical Genetics & Genomics – Certified in Clinical Biochemical Genetics
• Fellow, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (FACMG)
• Member, American Society of Human Genetics
• Member, International Skeletal Dysplasia Society
• Member, Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Leadership & Grant Support:

• Principal Investigator, Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium, Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (multi-site NIH NCATS, NICHD, NIDCR, NIAMS & NIMH funding)
• Clinical Director, Baylor Center for Genomic Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare Disorders (GREGoR) – NIH/NHGRI
• Director, Medical Genetics Residency & Fellowship Programs, Baylor College of Medicine
• Medical Director, Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Baylor Genetics

Laboratory & Clinical Teams:

Dr. Sutton leads a multidisciplinary team at the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory of Baylor Genetics that develops and deploys high-throughput metabolomic assays. He mentors residents and fellows in the Medical Genetics training programs and collaborates closely with the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium and the GREGoR consortium, fostering a rich environment for translational research and education.