2007 Public Lecture Series - Science at Your Service

Series Host: Victoria Derbyshire, Ph.D.

Dr. Derbyshire joined the Wadsworth Center in 1992, after receiving her doctorate in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University, followed by postdoctoral work there. As a research scientist in Wadsworth's Division of Genetic Disorders, Dr. Derbyshire pursued National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation-supported studies of introns and inteins, genetic elements that interrupt coding sequences. These elements are valuable biotechnology tools, and Dr. Derbyshire holds a patent, with others, on the use of inteins to purify proteins. She combined research with clinical responsibilities, evaluating "home brew" tests developed by clinical laboratories around the country that use molecular methods to detect infectious organisms, methods that several speakers in the lecture series will describe. In September 2006, Dr. Derbyshire was named assistant director of the Wadsworth Center where, as part of the executive team, she works to develop and facilitate Wadsworth's public health science and research agendas.