Dr. Jeffrey Gruen

Biography

Dr. Gruen received BS and MD degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans. He began his internship training in pediatrics at Yale in 1981, followed by subspecialty training in neonatology and research training in molecular genetics under Dr. Sherman Weissman. Dr. Gruen joined the Yale faculty in 1988, devoting time to both the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and laboratory research. His lab initially focused on mapping the gene for hemochromatosis before shifting towards identifying a gene locus associated with reading disabilities, specifically dyslexia. His groundbreaking work led to the identification of the dyslexia gene DCDC2, recognized as one of the top breakthroughs by the journal Science in 2005. As the principal investigator of the Yale Genes, Reading Dyslexia (GRaD) Study, Dr. Gruen has studied genetic factors influencing dyslexia in Hispanic and African American children across multiple sites in North America. He also initiated the New Haven Lexinome Project, a longitudinal study aimed at determining the genetic basis of learning disabilities in a large cohort of students. Dr. Gruen's clinical work continues at Yale, where he attends the NICU eight weeks a year. His research interests encompass dyslexia, genetics, language development disorders, and neonatal care.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards