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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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. -
Press ReleaseAugust 25, 2021Chris Brannigan to walk 1,200 miles barefoot for rare disease research
Chris Brannigan is preparing to take off his boots and walk nearly 1200 miles down the eastern seaboard of the United States, and he's doing it all in the name of CdLS research for his daughter, Hasti. -
Press ReleaseJune 29, 2021JAX's Cat Lutz receives Rare Impact Award from NORD
Senior Director of JAX Rare and Orphan Disease Center, Cat Lutz, Ph.D., M.B.A. is honored for her tireless efforts in rare disease research with an award from NORD. -
Featured ArticleOctober 22, 2018A new world of opportunity in rare diseases
JAX neuroscientist Cat Lutz, Ph.D., gave a TED-style talk about strides in rare disease research as part of the Laboratory’s JAXtaposition speaker series. Photo by Brian Fitzgerald.
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Featured ArticleMarch 02, 2022How do you navigate the rare disease odyssey?
Rare disease families and experts offer advice on how to navigate the complicated and daunting journey from diagnosis to potential treatment. -
Featured ArticleJuly 29, 2021
Exposing the genetics of ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. As of now, there is no known cure, but researchers at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and elsewhere are undaunted and hard at work. -
Featured ArticleJune 01, 2021Next-Gen Genetics
Scientists at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) discussed the dramatic changes that have taken place in the field of genetics over the past three decades – and how those advancements are allowing us to change the course of diseases that have a genetic basis. -
Press ReleaseOctober 09, 2018Advancing therapeutic gene editing
NIH awards $3.5M to JAX under multi-institution Somatic Cell Genome Editing program.