Kellett Professor
School of Medicine and Public Health | Department of Neuroscience
Hometown: Libby, MT
Gail Robertson, Kellett Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a molecular biologist and biophysicist interested in mechanisms controlling electrical excitability in the heart and brain. Work from her lab showed that cardiac IKr is produced by channels encoded by the hERG gene and identified hERG channels as the molecular target for acquired long QT syndrome. She is co-inventor of the hERG cell-based safety assay ensuring drugs in development do not cause catastrophic arrhythmias. More recently her lab made the discovery that ion channels producing the ventricular action potential are synthesized in pairs from physically associated mRNA molecules and are cotranslationally regulated. She is a recipient of the NSF CAREER, AHA Established Investigator, and Biophysical Society K.S. Cole awards, and is past president of the Biophysical Society.
Talks:
The Body Electric: Health, Disease, and Therapeutic Approaches
Ion channels are the electrical conduits of the body. This talk traces UW-Madison research from the discovery of the “hERG” cardiac ion channel and its role in drug-induced arrhythmia, the development of hERG-based drug safety technology adopted worldwide, and the ongoing pursuit of hERG-targeted therapies to prevent sudden cardiac death.
DEI: Inclusion is the Key
In this talk, I will share lessons from my work in academia and scientific organizations on the importance of strategic thinking in building inclusive learning and working environments. We will explore practical steps to create a culture of belonging, expand opportunity, and advance excellence through inclusion.