Dr. Carol Greider

Biography

Carol Greider is a distinguished professor emerita in the Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics at Johns Hopkins University. She is renowned for her research on telomeres, which protect chromosome ends and are crucial in maintaining genomic stability. Greider’s groundbreaking work involves the enzyme telomerase, which synthesizes telomere sequences and plays an essential role in cellular replication and aging. Her lab has notably focused on understanding the consequences of telomere dysfunction, employing biochemistry techniques using yeast and mice models. Greider's research has demonstrated the impact of telomere shortening on cell viability and its association with tumor suppression and stem cell function. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of the genetic basis behind dyskeratosis congenita, a disease caused by telomerase mutations, and has developed mouse models to further investigate this condition. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009 for her contributions to the field.

Research Interests