Dr. Laura Manuelidis

Biography

Laura Manuelidis, MD is a Professor at Yale School of Medicine specializing in Neuropathology. She is known for her groundbreaking research on major repeated DNAs, specifically human alpha satellite and retroviral LINE DNAs. Her method allowed for the detailed 3-D arrangement analysis of individual chromosomes within the interphase nucleus of various cell types. Dr. Manuelidis has made significant contributions to understanding neurodegenerative diseases, including her work on human Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and sheep scrapie. She has elucidated blood-borne routes of infection and innate immune responses to foreign infectious agents, challenging the established prion protein hypothesis. Her unique animal culture models demonstrated that infectious particles can exist without detectable prion proteins. Dr. Manuelidis discovered circular “SPHINX” DNAs present in mammalian brain cells, revealing evolutionary implications about endosymbiotic exchanges and neurodegeneration. She has been an active participant in numerous NIH study sections and public service roles. Her accolades include the Chromosoma Prize and multiple research awards.

Research Interests

Experience