Rebecca Darrah, PhD is a board certified and licensed genetic counselor, and is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences. Becky earned her PhD in Genetics in 2010, her Master's degree in Genetic Counseling in 2000, and her Master’s Degree in Bioethics in 1998, all from CWRU. She has worked as a genetic counselor and clinical supervisor in both prenatal and general genetics, and has been a leader in the Genetic Counseling Training Program at CWRU since 2005, holding various positions including Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Associate Director.
Becky leads a research lab that focuses on cystic fibrosis (CF). She studies circadian disruption in CF, and benefits and risks of CFTR modulator use during pregnancy. Her lab also uses novel mouse models of CF to study interventions aimed at improving pulmonary mechanics, response to infection as a means to improve quality of life for people with CF. She mentors both genetic counseling and doctoral students in her lab.
Dr. Darrah is Co-Director of the Research Institute of Children's Health, serves on numerous committees for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the CWRU School of Medicine. Clinically, Dr. Darrah provides genetic counseling for the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital.
Teaching Information
Teaching Interests
- As Assistant Director of the Genetic Counseling Training Program, my responsibilities include teaching, serving on thesis committees, mentoring students in laboratory, interviewing prospective students, supervising the students’ clinical rotations, and providing one-on-one guidance.
- At the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, I lecture on clinical genetics, and molecular genetics to the graduate students. I look forward to mentoring graduate students in the genetics lab.
Research Information
Research Interests
- Genetics and genetic counseling
- Genetic modifiers of pulmonary disease
Publications
Darrah RJ, Mitchell AL, Campanaro CK, Barbato ES, Litman P, Sattar A, Hodges CA, Drumm ML, Jacono FJ. (2016). Early pulmonary disease manifestations in cystic fibrosis mice. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. doi:10.1016/j.jcf.2016.05.002
Darrah R, Nelson R, Damato EG, Decker M, Matthews A, Hodges CA. (2016). Growth Deficiency in Cystic Fibrosis Is Observable at Birth and Predictive of Early Pulmonary Function. Biological Research for Nursing. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27081158.
Decker, M.J., Muller, K.J., Keating, G.L., Damato, E.G., & Darrah, R. Maternal dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids confers neuroprotection against hypoxia-induced dopamine dysfunction. Sleep Science. doi:10.1016/j.slsci.2016.05.007
Drumm ML, Konstan MW, Schlucther MD, Handler A, Pace R, Zou F, Zariwala M, Fargo D, Xu A, Dunn JM, Darrah RJ, Dorfman R, Sandford AJ, Corey M, Zielenski J, Durie P, Goddard K, Yankaskas JR, Wright FA, Knowles MR; Gene Modifier Study Group. (2005) Genetic Modifiers of lung disease in cystic fibrosis. New England Journal of Medicine 353(14): 1443:53.
Darrah R, McKone E, O’Connor C, Rodgers C, Genatossio A, McNamara S, Gibson R, Stuart Elborn J, Ennis M, Gallagher CG, Kalsheker N, Wiese D, Dunn J, Smith P, Pace R, Londono D, Goddard KA, Knowles MR, Drumm ML. (2010) EDNRA variants associate with smooth muscle mRNA levels, cell proliferation rates, and cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease severity. Physiological Genomics 41(1):71-77. PMCID: PMC2841492
Darrah, R; Mitchell, A; Bederman, I; Hodges, C; Campanaro, C; Drumm, M; Jacono, F (2013) Ventilatory pattern and energy expenditure are altered in cystic fibrosis mice. J Cyst Fibros. 2013 Jul;12(4):345-51.
Langfelder-Schwind, E; Karczeski, B; Strecker, M; Redman, C; Zaleski, C; Sugarman, E; Brown, T; Keiles, S; Ghate, S; Powers, A; and Darrah, R. Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Analysis in Genetic Counseling Practice, 2013 Updated Recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.” (2013) Journal of Genetic Counseling (in press)
Ross K, Darrah RJ, Hodges CA, Lang L, Kelley T. Increased Expression of RhoA in Epithelium and Smooth Muscle of Obese Mouse Models: Implications for Isoprenoid Control of Airway Smooth Muscle and Fibroblasts. J Allergy (Cairo). 2013;2013:740973.
Education
Additional Information
Certification
Board Certified Genetic Counselor, 2002