Patricia DeLeon

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Patricia Anastastia Martin DeLeon
Born (1944-07-13) 13 July 1944 (age 78)
Alma mater
Scientific career
Institutions
Thesis Chromosome studies of rabbit blastocysts resulting from spermatazoa [sic] aged in vivo  (1972)

Patricia Anastastia Martin DeLeon (born 13 July 1944) is a Jamaican reproductive geneticist who is specialists in the male reproductive system. She is the Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware. In 2010 she was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring by Barack Obama.

Contents

Early life and education

DeLeon was born in Port Maria. She was one of nine children, and had to lobby the principal of her high school, Excelsior High School, to waive the fees to allow her family to attend. She became interested in botany as a child and learnt the Latin names of all the plants that she collected. [1] The principal agreed based on DeLeon's academic performance. She attended the University of the West Indies for her undergraduate studies, where she focussed on zoology and chemistry. After earning her undergraduate degree DeLeon moved to Canada, where she joined the University of Western Ontario for her doctoral degree in microscopic anatomy. [2] She was subsequently a postdoc at McGill University.[ citation needed ]

Research and career

In 1976 DeLeon joined the faculty at the University of Delaware. [3] DeLeon has extensively studied the Sperm adhesion molecule 1 (SPAM1), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linked membrane protein. The mechanisms that underpin the expression of these proteins are poorly understood, but are crucial for the development of assisted reproductive technology. [4] The over-expression of SPAM1 can give rise to cancer. In 2009 she was named the Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences. [5] Alongside her work on male fertility, DeLeon has studied particles in the fallopian tube, the understanding of which may improve the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation. [2] She is working on non-invasive diagnostic methods to identify embryos that are most likely to result in successful IVF. [6]

Throughout her career DeLeon has worked to support undergraduates gain research experience. [7]

Awards and honours

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

Male infertility refers to a sexually mature male's inability to impregnate a fertile female. In humans it accounts for 40–50% of infertility. It affects approximately 7% of all men. Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity. More recently, advance sperm analyses that examine intracellular sperm components are being developed.

The cation channels of sperm also known as Catsper channels or CatSper, are ion channels that are related to the two-pore channels and distantly related to TRP channels. The four members of this family form voltage-gated Ca2+ channels that seem to be specific to sperm. As sperm encounter the more alkaline environment of the female reproductive tract, CatSper channels become activated by the altered ion concentration. These channels are required for proper fertilization. The study of these channels has been slow because they do not traffic to the cell membrane in many heterologous systems.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemary Gillespie (biologist)</span> American evolutionary biologist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Elena Zavala</span> American plant biologist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claire Brindis</span> American paediatrician

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References

  1. 1 2 Nowak, Romana A. (2018-11-01). "An interview with Dr Patricia A. Martin-DeLeon". Biology of Reproduction. 99 (5): 899–902. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioy103 . ISSN   0006-3363. PMID   30561557.
  2. 1 2 3 "AlisonAwardDeLeon". www.bio.udel.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  3. "Patricia Martin-DeLeon". Icons. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  4. "Patricia A. DeLeon, PhD". Careers in Andrology. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  5. "Patricia DeLeon's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  6. contributor, Joey Davidson / (2017-01-13). "This UD researcher hopes to make in vitro fertilization much more affordable". Technical.ly Delaware. Retrieved 2020-08-02.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. "PAESMEM » Awardee Profile". paesmem.net. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  8. American Society of Andrology (April 5, 2005). "ASA 30th Annual Meeting Program" (PDF). American Society of Andrology. Retrieved May 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Patricia Martin-DeLeon: Scientist par Excellence! | Mona E-Connection". www.mona.uwi.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  10. "President Honors Outstanding Science, Math, Engineering Teachers and Mentors". whitehouse.gov. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  11. "11th William G. Demas Lecture" . Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  12. "50 Most Outstanding Jamaican Women - Record". calameo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.