Douglas Wallace

Douglas C. Wallace received his BS degree from Cornell University, majoring in genetics, developmental biology, and microbiology, and graduated Yale University Medical School with a M.Ph. and Ph.D.   During his graduate studies, Dr. Wallace founded the field of human mitochondrial genetics.  He was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University Medical School.  His application of techniques of molecular genetics to his studies permitted him to demonstrate the maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA, initiate the search for mtDNA disease mutations, and begin characterizing population-specific mtDNA sequence polymorphisms.  Later he served at Emory University Medical School where he created the Center for Molecular Medicine.  The Center permitted the integration of his clinical, diagnostic, and basic research programs on mitochondrial genetics and related neuromuscular diseases.  In 2002, he moved to the University of California, Irvine where he is Director, Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics.