Cathleen (Cat) Lutz, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Vice President, Rare Disease Translational Center
Researches mice as a model for human neurodegenerative disease, with an emphasis on best practices for research and preclinical drug testing.
Cat Lutz, Ph.D., M.B.A. is the Vice President of the Rare Disease Translational Center at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX). With 25 years of experience in mouse genetics, Dr. Lutz has focused her research efforts on patient organizations and families diagnosed with rare diseases. The JAX Rare Disease Translational Center incorporates precision mouse models and broad-based drug efficacy testing to support IND enabling studies. She serves as the Principal Investigator of multiple NIH sponsored programs including the Center for Precision Genetics, The Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, and Mouse Mutant Research and Resource Center. As a neuroscientist by training, Dr. Lutz has worked on models of the central nervous system such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Friedreich’s Ataxia. Dr. Lutz was recently awarded a 2021 Rare Impact Award by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Education and experience
Education
1997
Ph.D., biochemistry
University of Maine, Orono, ME
1990
B.S., biochemistry
The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Experience
2012-
Director, Rare and Orphan Disease Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
2011-
Director, Repository, and Research Scientist, Genetic Resource Science, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
2008-2011
Associate Director and Research Scientist, Genetic Resource Science, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
2004-2008
Mouse Repository Operations Manager and Associate Research Scientist, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
1998-2004
Senior Scientific Curator, Mouse Genome Informatics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
1996-1998
Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Dr. David Hosford, Duke University, Durham North Carolina
1993-1996
Predoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Dr. Wayne Frankel, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
1991-1993
Senior Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Wayne Frankel, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
1990-1991
Research Assistant, Laboratory of Dr. Benjamin Taylor, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
1987-1990
Research Technician, Laboratory of Dr. Mary Edmonds, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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Research HighlightJune 02, 2023Bringing preclinical genome editing to the clinic
Supported by an NIH grant, Cat Lutz will lead a multi-institutional team to develop and validate new gene editing-based therapeutic approaches for four neurological conditions lacking effective treatments. -
Featured ArticleMarch 28, 2023Empowering the Rare Disease Community
Joanna Gell, MD, research scientist at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and pediatric oncologist, has been appointed to a newly-established Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC). -
Press ReleaseFebruary 21, 2023Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant will support rare neurological disorder research
A team including The Jackson Laboratory has received a $2 million grant to research the cause of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). -
Featured ArticleDecember 02, 2022JAX Rare Disease Translational Center strives to advance rare disease research
The Rare Disease Translational Center connects JAX to young patients and their families.
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Research HighlightMay 18, 2023Implementing gene therapies for rare diseases
A new consortium will positively impact rare disease patients and families and is a powerful and gratifying next step for those gene therapies that have shown so much promise in preclinical experiments. -
Research HighlightMarch 17, 2023Examining the role of TDP-43
Cat Lutz is on a group whose research examines TDP-43 and its effect on stathmin-2. -
Press ReleaseDecember 19, 2022An outstanding year of growth at The Jackson Laboratory
2022 has been a notable year for The Jackson Laboratory, with great achievements and many reasons to celebrate continued momentum for JAX’s mission. -
Featured ArticleAugust 18, 2022Battling SPG50 and changing how we treat rare diseases
Terry Pirovolakis and his family are going to the ends of the earth to create a treatment for his son Michael’s rare disease, SPG50. Their herculean fight may do more than help Michael and others affected by SPG50: it could also change the way that rare diseases are treated as a whole.