Samantha Powers

Advisor: Kathrin Meyer

powers.476@osu.edu

(614) 355-2715

WA2108 Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH
43210

Areas of Expertise

Neurotrauma, Neurological Disorders, and Gene/Clinical Thera

Education

BS, MS in Biology University of Maine

Research:

My work is focused on the implementation of a novel gene therapy treatment for Rett syndrome. We have developed an Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vector to deliver human MeCP2 cNDA under the control of an endogenous promoter. We are currently testing the safety and efficacy of treatment with vector in a mouse model of the disease as well as healthy non-human primates. The goal of this work is to initiate a clinical trial of our vector for Rett syndrome patients in the near future.

Awards:

2018 - Battelle Student Research Exchange Fellowship, Battelle
2017 - RITA Graduate Fellowship, Nationwide Chidlren’s

Publications:

Powers, S., Kwok, S., Lovejoy, E., Lavin, T., Sher, R., (2017) “Embryonic Exposure to the Environmental Neurotoxin BMAA Negatively Impacts Early Neuronal Development and Progression of Neurodegeneration in the SOD1-G93R Zebrafish Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.” Toxicol Sci (2017) 157 (1): 129-140

Presentations:

Rett Syndrome Gene Therapy: Effective in Mice, Safe in Non-Human Primates Poster Presented at the 2018 OSU Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Forum, Columbus, Ohio

Rett Syndrome Gene Therapy: Effective in Mice, Safe in Non-Human Primates Talk Presented at the February 2018 32nd Annual Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum, Columbus, Ohio

Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome Rescues MeCP2 Null Mice Poster Presented at the 2017 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Retreat, Columbus, Ohio

Rett Syndrome Gene Therapy: Effective in Mice, Safe in Non-Human Primates Talk Presented at the 2017 Society for Neuroscience Rett Syndrome Annual Meeting, Washington, DC

Samantha Powers, Carlos J, Miranda, Cassandra Dennys, Amy Huffenberger, Stephanie Solano, Katelynn Kinley, Kimberly Sandy, Lyndsey Braun, Kathrin Meyer, Kevin Foust, Brian K. Kaspar (2017 May) Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome Rescues MeCP2 Null Mice Talk Presented at the 2017 Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Symposium, Columbus Ohio

Samantha Powers, Carlos J, Miranda, Cassandra Dennys, Amy Huffenberger, Stephanie Solano, Katelynn Kinley, Kimberly Sandy, Lyndsey Braun, Kathrin Meyer, Kevin Foust, Brian K. Kaspar (2017 April) Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome Rescues MeCP2 Null Mice Poster Presented at the April 2017 Wexner Medical Center Trainee Research Day, Columbus Ohio

Samantha Powers, Carlos J, Miranda, Cassandra Dennys, Amy Huffenberger, Stephanie Solano, Katelynn Kinley, Kimberly Sandy, Lyndsey Braun, Kathrin Meyer, Kevin Foust, Brian K. Kaspar (2017 March) Rett Syndrome Gene Therapy Improves Survival and Ameliorates Behavioral Phenotypes in MeCP2 Null Mice Talk Presented at the February 2017 31st Annual Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum, Columbus Ohio

Samantha Powers, Carlos J, Miranda, Cassandra Dennys, Amy Huffenberger, Stephanie Solano, Katelynn Kinley, Kimberly Sandy, Lyndsey Braun, Kathrin Meyer, Kevin Foust, Brian K. Kaspar (2017 February) Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome Rescues MeCP2 Null Mice Poster Presented at the February 2017 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Poster of the Week, Columbus Ohio

Samantha Powers, Carlos J, Miranda, Cassandra Dennys, Amy Huffenberger, Stephanie Solano, Lyndsey Braun, Kathrin Meyer, Kevin Foust, Brian K. Kaspar (2016 November) Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome Rescues MeCP2 Null Mice Talk Presented at the 2016 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Retreat, Columbus Ohio

Gene Therapy for Rett Syndrome IGP Symposium, May 18, 2016

People Filters:

Neurotrauma, Neurological Disorders, and Gene/Clinical Therapies