DU Professor Receives Prestigious Award
David Patterson honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
David Patterson, a professor in DU’s Department of Biological Sciences whose research has contributed to our understanding of Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and more, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The association bestowed this honor on 391 of its members this year, in recognition of their distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications.
“It is a humbling experience to be recognized by my colleagues through being elected a Fellow,” Patterson says. “I would like to thank all those who have worked in my lab and who have collaborated with me over the years, without whom this honor would have been impossible.”
Patterson, who currently holds the University’s Theodore Puck Endowed Chair, is a senior scientist at DU’s Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and a member of the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging. He holds a doctorate in microbiology from Brandeis University and a bachelor’s of science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Patterson’s research focuses heavily on the genetic, biochemical and metabolic changes associated with Down syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability in the human population. His research also contributes to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, cancer, human cognitive disorders and the biology of the aging process. He uses cell and animal models for his studies, which have resulted in more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles.
Patterson’s research has received support from the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He serves on numerous committees dedicated to medical interests, including the National Down Syndrome Society Science and Clinical Advisory Board, the Medical Scientific Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Colorado chapter, and the Science Advisory Board of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation.
In addition to his accomplishments as a researcher, Patterson has shared his knowledge as a teacher, interacting with many DU students in both the classroom and lab.
New AAAS Fellows will receive their awards on Feb. 18, 2017, at the society’s annual meeting in Boston.