Lucio Comai, PhD

Dr. Comai received his Ph.D.in Biochemistry in 1990 from the University of California, Davis and completed his postdoctoral training at University of California, Berkeley. He joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine in 1995. The goal of his research program is to advance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying aging and nucleotide repeat expansion disorders with the aim to develop novel therapeutic approaches and more effective treatments to increase health-span and live a longer, healthier life.

• USC Idea Empowered, 2013
• Johnson & Johnson Translational Innovation Partnership, 2012
• Fullbright Specialist, 2008
• American Cancer Society Scholar, 2003
• Zumberge Faculty Research and Innovation, 2008
• Travel Award;International Union Against Cancer, 1998
• 1991
   -: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund, 1991
   – 1994
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar Award, 1991
• 1997
   -: Jastro Schield Graduate Fellowship, 1997
   – 1999

• Small molecule therapeutics for myotonic dystrophy type 1
  NIH · R01NS126219 · Jan 15, 2023 – Dec 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Development and validation of a cell-based assay system to identify novel therapeutics for C9ALS/FTD
  NIH · R21NS112950 · Apr 1, 2020 – Sep 30, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• A destabilizing mechanism of expanded trinucleotide repeats as a potential therapeutic strategy for myotonic dystrophy
  NIH · R03NS107724 · Mar 1, 2019 – Feb 28, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Mechanism of Small Molecule Mediated Rescue of Myotonic Dystrophy
  NIH/NINDS · R01NS080547 · Apr 1, 2013 – Mar 31, 2019 · Role: Co-investigator
• Identification of Therapeutic Small Molecules for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
  NIH · R21NS077722 · Sep 30, 2011 – Aug 31, 2014 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Role of the Werner syndrome protein complex in the metabolism of chromosome ends
  NIH · R01AG034156 · Apr 1, 2010 – Aug 31, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Biochemical analyses of muscleblind complexes in myotonic dystrophy
  NIH · R01NS060839 · Feb 1, 2007 – Nov 30, 2014 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• The Werner syndrome protein in CPT-induced DNA damage
  NIH · R01AG023873 · Jun 1, 2004 – May 31, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Viral regulation of ribosomal RNA transcription
  NIH · R01GM053949 · Jan 1, 1998 – Aug 31, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Ribosomal RNA Synthesis by RNA Polymerase I
  American Cancer Society · Jul 1, 1997 – Jun 30, 2006 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Lieber, Michael
• Reddy, Sita
• Farnham, Peggy
• Lenz, Heinz-Josef
• Zhang, Lin
• Longo, Valter