Rebecca Darrah, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
School of Medicine
Associate Professor
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Co-Director
Genetic Counseling Training Program
Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
School of Medicine

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

Doctor of Philosophy
Genetics
Case Western Reserve University
2010
Master of Science
Genetic Counseling
Case Western Reserve University
2000
Master of Arts
Bioethics
Case Western Reserve University
1998
Bachelor of Arts
Biology
College of Wooster
1993

Additional Information

Certification

Board Certified Genetic Counselor, 2002