Elizabeth C. Bryda, MS, PhD

Curators’ Distinguished Professor

Interim Associate Chair of the Department of Pathobiology and Integrative Biomedical Sciences
Director, Rat Resource and Research Center (RRRC)

Director, Rat Testing Center for Somatic Cell Genome Editing
Co-Director, Animal Modeling Core (AMC)
Co-Director, Comparative Medicine Program (CMP)

  • M.S. Microbiology – Rutgers University/University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
  • Ph.D, Rutgers University/University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
  • Postdoctoral Training: Molecular Genetics – Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY
Elizabeth C. Bryda

Building Address: Room N131, 4011 Discovery Drive, Columbia, MO 65201 (Discovery Ridge Research Park)
Phone Number: 573-882-5504
Email: brydae@missouri.edu

RESEARCH INTERESTS

In my laboratory, we are interested in genetic engineering, molecular genetics and animal modeling. We take a comparative approach to studying human disorders by using a variety of animal models of disease, including both rodent and zebrafish models. We are interested in characterizing disease-causing genes/disease variants and their protein products in order to elucidate the molecular pathways in which these genes/proteins participate. This knowledge will allow a better understanding of both normal and abnormal development/function and may ultimately lead to targeted therapeutics. We have generated and characterized a variety of animal models to study diseases including polycystic kidney disease, hereditary deafness, Alzheimer’s Disease, epilepsy, cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, we are interested in developing and using state-of-the-art genetic engineering methods to generate and characterize new animal models. For example, our lab has unique expertise working with rat embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and we have isolated new rat ESC lines.  We have helped validate a novel rat and zebrafish cell ablation model system and we use evolving technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 to create new genetically engineered animal models.  Genome editing has allowed us to create rodent models that carry rare human genetic alterations in order to validate these putative disease-causing mutations and generate animal models that can facilitate personalized medicine interventions. We are also interested in studying the role of non-genetic factors on animal model phenotypes. Examples of this include exploring the impact of the microbiome on zebrafish to study stress and anxiety, investigating microbiota sex differences in an Alzheimer’s Disease rat model, and evaluating the impact of probiotics and plant-based dietary supplements in a variety of animal model systems.

TEACHING

BSC 4982WI/7982: Human Inherited Diseases (Course Director and sole instructor); LAB AN 9476: Grant and Manuscript Writing for Biomedical Researchers (Course Director, primary instructor); VPB 4787: Historical, Societal & Ethical Topics in Medicine & Biomedical Research (Course Director, sole instructor); LAB AN 9498: Lab Animal Biology (instructor for genetics section).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (Since 2019)