Rare Mamas Rising: Driving Discoveries with Principal Investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine at the University of Washington and Rare Mama Kim Aldinger

Driving Discoveries with Principal Investigator at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine at the University of Washington and Rare Mama Kim Aldinger

Apr 26, 2023

RARE MAMAS RISING- EPISODE 26

Driving Discoveries with Principal Investigator at the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine at the University of Washington & Rare Mama Dr. Kim Aldinger

Dr. Aldinger is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Integrative Brain Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine at The University of Washington. She received a BA in biology from Brandeis University, an ALM in psychology from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in neurobiology from The University of Chicago. Dr. Aldinger has over 20 years of research experience applying neuroscience and genomics techniques to understand the impact of genetic changes on the development of brain structures and functions relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. She is also the mom of twins Chloe and Grayson. Grayson has a rare genetic disease called MAST4. Dr. Aldinger understands the impact of a rare disease from both a professional, scientific perspective and a personal parent viewpoint. Her deep roots in research, coupled with her passion to contribute to the rare disease community, make her one to watch as she helps drive discoveries!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Aldinger’s path to becoming a brain researcher
The work Dr. Aldinger does as a Professor of Genetic Medicine and as a Principal Investigator
Grayson’s diagnostic journey and MAST4 diagnosis
How Dr. Aldinger co-founded the MAST Genes Research Foundation and the work she’s doing on MAST genetic mutations
How being a mom to a child with a rare condition informs Dr. Aldinger’s work
Advice for rare parents on how to approach research
Dr. Aldinger’s best learnings for fellow rare mamas