Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
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Sarah Elsea is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Human & Molecular Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. She is board certified in biochemical genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics. Dr. Elsea teaches introductory and advanced human genetics, trains graduate students in genetics/genetic counseling, provides clinical consultations, and focuses on research efforts toward characterizing Smith-Magenis Syndrome and related genetic disorders. Dr. Elsea's lab identified the causative gene for SMS in 2003 (RAI1) and has focused research efforts toward characterization of RAI1 using mouse and cell culture models, including the effects of RAI1 on cellular pathways (particularly that involved obesity/behavior) and the identification of other possible genetic causes for SMS. (PAB term: 2010-2013)

National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
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Ann Smith is a certified genetic counselor and internationally recognized leader in the field of medical genetics and genetic counseling. Ann Smith works as a senior genetic counselor under contract to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in the Office of the Clinical Director, dividing her time between clinical and research activities. As Principal Investigator of the natural history study (protocol 01-HG-0109) of Smith-Magenis Syndrome, she heads the multidisciplinary team of basic science clinical researchers who work collaboratively on SMS at the NIH. (PAB term: 2009-2012)

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Professor Emerita Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pediatrics
Ellen Magenis is currently the director of the Cytogenetic Laboratory and CDRC Chromosome Clinic at OHSU. Her special interest is in human chromosome mapping. She is also a Professor of Genetics, OHSU School of Medicine. Dr. Magenis many research interests include human gene mapping and numerical and structural aberrations of chromosomes; Prader-Willi/Angelman, Velocardiofacial, and Smith-Magenis syndromes; chromosome abnormalities in malignancy; origin of germ cell tumors in children and adults; melatonin levels in sleep-disordered SMS; and problems in sex determination. (PAB term: 2009-2012)

Genetic Services at Elwyn, Elwyn, PA
Brenda Finucane, MS, CGC, is a certified genetic counselor who serves as Elwyn's Executive Director of Genetic Services. She is widely published and has gained international recognition for her expertise in the behavioral and cognitive manifestations of genetic syndromes. Ms. Finucane serves on the scientific advisory committees of several genetics support organizations and is the 2011 president-elect of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She is a co-founder of PRISMS and a winner of the prestigious Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship Award of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Ms. Finucane has a particular interest in school and vocational issues; she travels throughout the US and Canada providing consultations for children and adults with SMS. (PAB term: 2010-2013)

Elwyn Training & Research Institute, Elwyn, PA
Barbara Haas-Givler works as a Behavior Specialist and teacher for school districts in the Allentown, PA area. Ms. Haas-Givler also serves as a consultant to genetic Services at Elwyn, Inc. She has over 35 years of experience in special education, serving in many different capacities over the course of her career, including classroom teacher, administrator, educational consultant, and behavior specialist. Ms. Haas-Givler has co-authored several publications on topics related to genetic syndromes, including frequently cited articles on the educational and behavioral manifestations of Smith-Magenis Syndrome. (PAB term: 2012-2015)

Bethesda Services, Ontario, Canada
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Kerry Boyd is a psychiatrist in the field of intellectual disabilities and autism across the lifespan. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Boyd works with the Autism Spectrum Disorder Team at McMaster Children’s Hospital. She is also Chief Clinical Officer for Bethesda, which is an agency in Ontario with a variety of services for people with special needs of all ages. (PAB term: 2010-2013)

Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
Andrea Gropman is a child neurologist and clinical geneticist at the Children’s national Medical Center in Washington, DC. She is Principal Investigator, at Children's Research Institute Center for Neuroscience Research (CNR). Dr. Gropman specializes in neurogenetics, with a focus on mitochondrial disorders and Smith-Magenis Syndrome. (PAB term: 2012-2015)

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Lori Potocki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular & Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine. Her primary interest involves the diagnosis, counseling, and management of individuals with developmental and genetic disorders. She directs the medical student curriculum in Genetics, and serves on curriculum committees at the School of Medicine and School of Allied Health Sciences. Her research involves the multi-disciplinary clinical study and characterization of Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS), Potocki-Lupski Syndrome (PTLS, duplication 17p11.2), and the Potocki-Shaffer Syndrome (PSS). (PAB term: 2010-2013)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, MD
Gonzalo Laje is a psychiatrist who has focused much of his attention on the pharmacological treatments of behaviors associated with Smith-Magenis Syndrome. He has a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research and also maintains a private practice, specializing in psychopharmacological treatment and consultation of mood and anxiety disorders, pervasive developmental disorders (autism spectrum), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychiatric management of genetic disorders. As a result of this work, Dr. Laje continues to drive the research for pinpointing better medications for treating behavioral issues associated with SMS, while championing the need for more awareness, especially in the mental health professional community. (PAB term: 2012-2015)

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Christine Brennan is a speech-language pathologist who runs a private clinic for children and adults with communication difficulties. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Northwestern University in the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus on developmental cognitive neuroscience. With over 20 years experience working with children and adults with disabilities (including those with SMS), Ms. Brennan is interested in conducting research that supports and extends current clinical practice. Her current research utilizes neuroimaging methods such as fMRI to learn how the brain processes speech and language. In 2009-2011, she was a recipient of the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Training Grant from the NIDCD. She aims to earn her PhD by summer 2013. (PAB term: 2012-2015)