Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D.

Peter Todd, M.D., Ph.D.

Chester and Anne Alecks Sackett Endowed Professor
Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology
Professor of Neurology

4005 BSRB
109 Zina Pitcher Place
Ann Arbor MI 48109-2200

petertod@umich.edu
734-763-0601
Articles ↓ Web Sites ↓

Administrative Contact

[email protected]

Biography

Peter K. Todd, M.D., Ph.D., is the Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology and associate chair for research in the department of Neurology. As a clinician, Dr. Todd sees patients at both the University of Michigan and at the VA medical Center in Ann Arbor. He directs the UM Ataxia clinic where he sees patients with inherited and sporadic Ataxias. He also co-directs the U-M Fragile X Clinic and sees adult patients with Fragile X Syndrome and Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS). He serves as director of the Clinical Neurogenetics Research Program, which aims to improve research and care for patients with inherited neurological disorders. 

As a physician scientist, Dr. Todd’s lab studies the mechanisms by which nucleotide repeat expansions cause neurological disorders with a long-term goal of developing novel therapeutics for currently untreatable conditions. His lab has published extensively on Fragile X-associated disorders, such as Fragile X Syndrome and Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) as well as C9orf72 repeat expansions that cause ALS and frontotemporal dementia. More recent studies explore roles for repeat expansions in more common neurological conditions. His lab has been continuously funded by the NIH and VA since its inception. He has received multiple institutional, national, and international awards related his research.

Dr. Todd has given over 100 invited presentations across the world and published over 70 papers on his research. He currently serves as associate chair for research in the department of Neurology where he guides efforts to enhance impactful work aimed at improving care for neurological diseases. Nationally, he serves on the American Academy of Neurology’s research committee, where he directs their annual career development symposium for physician scientists. He also serves on the American Neurological Association professional development committee and their task force on Neurogenetics.

Appointments

Co-Director, Multidisciplinary Ataxia Clinic, University of Michigan

Areas of Interest

The molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, most notably Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome, Myotonic Dystrophy, Polyglutamine Disorders and Alzheimer's Disease. Research is focused on the roles of RNA in neurological function and degeneration. Dr. Todd is also interested in discovering new genes that cause inherited neurological disorders.

Clinical Interests

Parkinson's disease, Dystonia, Cerebellar Ataxia, Tremor and Chorea. All inherited neurological disorders, including Fragile X Related Disorders such as Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.

Honors & Awards

  • Phi Beta Kappa, Summa cum Laude and Honors in Biology, University of California, San Diego
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
  • Francis M Forster Award for Neurology Excellence, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
  • Penn Pearl award for excellence in teaching, University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
  • Samuel Zeritsky Prize, University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
    Alliance S. Weir Mitchell Award (Best young basic science neurology researcher), AAN
  • Hagerman Award for groundbreaking research on Fragile X-associated disorders – NFXF
  • Dean’s Award for Basic Science Research- University of Michigan Medical School
  • Derek Denny-Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award- American Neurological Association

Credentials

Medical School or Training

  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, 2004

Residency

  • University of Pennsylvania, Neurology, PA, 2008

Fellowship

  • Movement Disorders, University of Michigan Health System, 2009

Board Certification

  • Neurology

Published Articles or Reviews

H Index: 36. i10 Index: 45. First author: 13. Corresponding author: 44.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles.  *= corresponding or co-corresponding author

  1. Kuczenski R, Segal DS, Todd PK: Behavioral sensitization and extracellular dopamine responses to amphetamine after various treatments, Psychopharmacology.134(3): 221-229, 12/1997. PM9438672
  2. Todd PK, Mack KJ.: Sensory stimulation increases cortical expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein in vivo. 80(1):17-25. Brain Research: Molecular Brain Research. 2000 Aug 14; PMID: 11039725
  3. Todd PK, Malter JS: Fragile X mental retardation protein in plasticity and disease, Journal of Neuroscience Research.70(5): 623-630, 12/2002. PM12424729
  4. Todd PK, Malter JS, Mack KJ: Whisker stimulation-dependent translation of FMRP in the barrel cortex requires activation of type I metabotropic glutamate receptors, Brain Research: Molecular Brain Research.110(2): 267-278, 02/2003. PM12591163
  5. Todd PK, Mack KJ, Malter JS: The fragile X mental retardation protein is required for type-I metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent translation of PSD-95, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.100: 14374-14378, 11/2003. PM14614133
  6. Nedelsky NB, Todd PK, Taylor JP: Autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system: Collaborators in neuroprotection, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease.1782(12): 691-699, 12/2008. PM18930136
  7. Todd PK*, Paulson HL*: RNA-mediated neurodegeneration in repeat expansion disorders, Annals of Neurology.67(3): 291-300, 03/2010. PM20373340
  8. Todd PK*, Oh SY, Krans A, Pandey UB, Di Prospero NA, Min KT, Taylor JP, Paulson HL. Histone deacetylases suppress CGG repeat-induced neurodegeneration via transcriptional silencing in models of fragile X tremor ataxia syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2010 Dec 9;6(12): e1001240. PMID: 21170301
  9. He F, Todd PK*: Epigenetics in nucleotide repeat expansion disorders, Seminars in Neurology.31(5): 470-483, 12/2011. PM22266885
  10. Renoux AJ, Todd PK*: Neurodegeneration the RNA way, Progress in Neurobiology.97(2): 173-189, 05/2012. PM22079416.
  11. Iliff AJ, Renoux AJ, Krans A, Usdin K, Sutton MA*, Todd PK*. Impaired activity-dependent FMRP translation and enhanced mGluR-dependent LTD in Fragile X premutation mice. Hum Mol Genet. 2013 Mar 15;22(6):1180-92. PMID: 23250915
  12. Sellier C, Freyermuth F, Tabet R, Tran T, He F, Ruffenach F, Alunni V, Moine H, Thibault C, Page A, Tassone F, Willemsen R, Disney MD, Hagerman PJ, Todd PK, Charlet-Berguerand N: Sequestration of DROSHA and DGCR8 by expanded CGG RNA Repeats Alters microRNA processing in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, Cell Reports.3(3): 869-880, 03/2013. PM23478018
  13. Meisler MH, Grant AE, Jones JM, Lenk GM, He F, Todd PK, Kamali M, Albin RL, Lieberman AP, Langenecker SA, McInnis MG: C9ORF72 expansion in a family with bipolar disorder., Bipolar Disorders.15: 326-332, 05/2013. PM23551834
  14. Todd PK*, Oh S-Y, Krans A, Frazer M, Renoux AJ, Scaglione KM, Basur V, Elintoba-Johnson K, Vonsattel JP, Louis ED, Sutton MA, Taylor JP, Paulson HL*: CGG repeat-associated translation mediates neurodegeneration in Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome., Neuron.78: 440-455, 01/2013. PM23602499
  15. Todd PK*, Ackall FY, Hur J, Sharma K, Paulson HL, Dowling JJ*: Transcriptional changes and developmental abnormalities in a Zebrafish model of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1., Dis Model Mech.7(1): 143-155, 01/2014. PM24092878
  16. Dang L, Dang X, Koralnik IJ, Todd PK*. JC polyomavirus granule cell neuronopathy in a patient treated with rituximab. JAMA Neurol. 2014 Apr;71(4):487-9.PMID: 24515530
  17. Renoux AJ, Sala-Hamrick KJ, Carducci NM, Frazer M, Halsey KE, Sutton MA, Dolan DF, Murphy GG, Todd PK*. Impaired sensorimotor gating in Fmr1 knock out and Fragile X premutation model mice. Behav Brain Res. 2014 Jul 1; 267:42-5. PMID: 24657592
  18. Renoux AJ, Carducci NM, Ahmady AA, Todd PK*: Fragile X mental retardation protein expression in Alzheimer's disease, Frontiers in Genetics. (5) 01/2014. PMID: 25452762
  19. Kearse MG, Todd PK*. Repeat-associated non-AUG translation and its impact in neurodegenerative disease. Neurotherapeutics. 2014 Oct;11(4):721-31. PMID: 25005000
  20. Su Z, Zhang Y, Gendron TF, Bauer PO, Chew J, Yang WY, Fostvedt E, Jansen-West K, Belzil VV, Desaro P, Johnston A, Overstreet K, Oh SY, Todd PK , Berry JD, Cudkowicz ME, Boeve BF, Dickson D, Floeter MK, Traynor BJ, Morelli C, Ratti A, Silani V, Rademakers R, Brown RH, Rothstein JD, Boylan KB, Petrucelli L, Disney MD: Discovery of a Biomarker and Lead Small Molecules to Target r(GGGGCC)-Associated Defects in c9FTD/ALS, Neuron.83(5): 1043-1050, 09/2014. PM25132468
  21. deLorimier E, Coonrod LA, Copperman J, Taber A, Reister EE, Sharma K, Todd PK, Guenza MG, Berglund JA: Modifications to toxic CUG RNAs induce structural stability, rescue mis-splicing in a myotonic dystrophy cell model and reduce toxicity in a myotonic dystrophy zebrafish model, Nucleic acids research.42(20): 12768-12778, 11/2014. PM25303993.
  22. Oh SY, He F, Krans A, Frazer M, Taylor JP, Paulson HL, Todd PK*: RAN translation at CGG repeats induces ubiquitin proteasome system impairment in models of fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome., Hum Mol Genet.24(15): 4317-4326, 01/2015. PM25954027
  23. He F, Krans A, Freibaum BD, Taylor JP, Todd PK*. TDP-43 suppresses CGG repeat-induced neurotoxicity through interactions with HnRNP A2/B1. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Oct 1;23(19):5036-51. PMID: 24920338.
  24. He F, Jones JM, Figueroa-Romero C, Zhang D, Feldman EL, Goutman SA, Meisler MH, Callaghan BC, Todd PK*: A Screen for Novel Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansions at ALS and FTD Associated Loci, Neurology: Genetics.2(3)01/2016. PM27274540
  25. Flores BN, Dulchavsky ME, Krans A, Sawaya MR, Paulson HL, Todd PK*, Barmada SJ*, Ivanova MI*: Distinct C9orf72-associated dipeptide repeat structures correlate with neuronal toxicity., PLoS One.11(10)01/2016. PM27776165
  26. Kearse MG, Green KM, Krans A, Rodriguez CM, Linsalata AE, Goldstrohm AC, Todd PK*: CGG Repeat-Associated Non-AUG Translation Utilizes a Cap-Dependent Scanning Mechanism of Initiation to Produce Toxic Proteins, Molecular Cell.62(2): 314-322, 04/2016. PM27041225
  27. Green KM, Linsalata AE, Todd PK*: RAN translation—What makes it run?, Brain Research.1647: 30-42, 09/2016. PM27060770
  28. Yang WY, He F, Strack RL, Oh SY, Frazer M, Jaffrey SR, Todd PK, Disney MD: Small Molecule Recognition and Tools to Study Modulation of r(CGG)exp in Fragile X-Associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome, ACS Chemical Biology.11(9): 2456-2465, 09/2016. PM27276216
  29. Chun SY, Rodriguez CM, Todd PK*, Mills RE*: SPECtre: A spectral coherence-based classifier of actively translated transcripts from ribosome profiling sequence data, BMC Bioinformatics.17(1)11/2016. PM27884106
  30. Krans A, Kearse MG, Todd PK*: Repeat-associated non-AUG translation from antisense CCG repeats in fragile X tremor/ataxia syndrome, Annals of Neurology.80(6): 871-881, 12/2016. PM27761921
  31. Sellier C, Buijsen RA M, He F, Natla S, Jung L, Tropel P, Gaucherot A, Jacobs H, Meziane H, Vincent A, Champy MF, Sorg T, Pavlovic G, Wattenhofer-Donze M, Birling MC, Oulad-Abdelghani M, Eberling P, Ruffenach F, Joint M, Anheim M, Martinez-Cerdeno V, Tassone F, Willemsen R, Hukema RK, Viville S, Martinat C, Todd PK, Charlet-Berguerand N: Translation of Expanded CGG Repeats into FMRpolyG Is Pathogenic and May Contribute to Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome, Neuron.93(2): 331-347, 01/2017. PM28065649
  32. Green KM, Glineburg MR, Kearse MG, Flores BN, Linsalata AE, Fedak SJ, Goldstrohm AC, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: RAN translation at C9orf72-associated repeat expansions is selectively enhanced by the integrated stress response, Nature Communications.8(1)12/2017. PM29222490
  33. Glineburg MR*, Todd PK, Charlet-Berguerand N, Sellier C*: Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation and other molecular mechanisms in Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome, Brain Research.1693: 43-54, 08/2018. PM29453961
  34. Haenfler JM, Skariah G, Rodriguez CM, Monteiro da Rocha A, Parent JM, Smith GD, Todd PK*. Targeted Reactivation of FMR1 Transcription in Fragile X Syndrome Embryonic Stem Cells. Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Aug 15; 11:282. PMID: 30158855
  35. Rodriguez CM, Chun SY, Mills RE, Todd PK*: Translation of upstream open reading frames in a model of neuronal differentiation., BMC Genomics.20(1): 391, 05/2019. England, PM31109297.
  36. Kearse MG, Goldman DH, Choi J, Nwaezeapu C, Liang D, Green KM, Goldstrohm AC, Todd PK, Green R, Wilusz JE. Ribosome queuing enables non-AUG translation to be resistant to multiple protein synthesis inhibitors. Genes Dev. 2019 Jul 1;33(13-14):871-885. PMID: 31171704
  37. Linsalata AE, He F, Malik AM, Glineburg MR, Green KM, Natla S, Flores BN, Krans A, Archbold HC, Fedak SJ, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: DDX3X and specific initiation factors modulate FMR1 repeat-associated non-AUG-initiated translation., EMBO Rep.20(9): e47498, 09/2019. England, PM31347257.
  38. Rodriguez CM, Todd PK*: New pathologic mechanisms in nucleotide repeat expansion disorders, Neurobiology of Disease.13010/2019. PM31229686.
  39. Krans A, Skariah G, Zhang Y, Bayly B, Todd PK*: Neuropathology of RAN translation proteins in Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome, Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019 Oct 30;7(1):152. PM31665086.
  40. Sacino AN, Prokop S, Walsh MA, Adamson J, Subramony SH, Krans A, Todd PK, Giasson BI, Yachnis AT: Fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome with co-occurrent progressive supranuclear palsy-like neuropathology, Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 2019 Oct 30;7(1):152. PM31665086.
  41. Green KM, Sheth U, Flores BN, Wright SE, Sutter A, Kearse MG, Barmada S, Ivanova MI, Todd PK*: High-throughput screening yields several small-molecule inhibitors of repeat-associated non-AUG translation, J Biol Chem.294: 18624-18638, 12/2019. PM31649034.
  42. Rodriguez CM, Wright SE, Kearse MG, Haenfler JM, Flores BN, Liu Y, Ifrim MF, Glineburg MR, Krans K, Jafar-Nejad P, Sutton MA, Bassell GJ, Parent JM, Rigo F, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: A native function for RAN translation and CGG repeats in regulating Fragile X protein synthesis, Nature Neuroscience.23: 386-397, 02/2020. PM32066985.
  43. Mackenzie S, Lin A, Todd PK, Burke JF, Callaghan BC: Genetic testing utilization for patients with neurological disease and the limitations of claims data, Neurology: Genetics.6(2)03/2020. PM32185241.
  44. He F, Flores BN, Krans A, Frazer M, Natla S, Niraula S, Adefioye O, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: The carboxyl termini of RAN translated GGGGCC nucleotide repeat expansions modulate toxicity in models of ALS/FTD, Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 8(1)08/2020. PM32753055.
  45. Skariah G, Todd PK*: Translational control in aging and neurodegeneration, Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. ePub ahead of print09/2020. PM32954679.
  46. Dijkstra AA, Haify SN, Verwey NA, Prins ND, van der Toorn EC, Rozemuller AJ M, Bugiani M, den Dunnen WF A, Todd PK, Charlet-Berguerand N, Willemsen R, Hukema RK, Hoozemans JJM: Neuropathology of FMR1-premutation carriers presenting with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms., Brain Commun.3(1): fcab007, 01/2021. England, PM33709078
  47. Glineburg MR, Zhang Y, Krans A, Tank EM, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: Enhanced detection of expanded repeat mRNA foci with hybridization chain reaction, Acta Neuropathol Commun.9(1)04/2021. PMID: 33892814
  48. Mailick MR, Hong J, Movaghar A, DaWalt L, Berry-Kravis EM, Brilliant MH, Boero J, Todd PK*, Hall D: Mild Neurological Signs in FMR1 Premutation Women inan Unselected Community-Based Cohort, Mov Disord. 2021 Jun 12. doi:10.1002/mds.28683. PM34117786.
  49. Singh CR, Glineburg MR, Moore C, Tani N, Jaiswal R, Zou Y, Aube E, Gillaspie S, Thornton M, Cecil A, Hilgers M, Takasu A, Asano I, Asano M, Escalante CR, Nakamura A, Todd PK*, Asano K*: Human oncoprotein 5MP suppresses general and repeat-associated non-AUG translation via eIF3 by a common mechanism, Cell Rep.3607/2021. PM34260931
  50. Tseng YJ, Sandwith SN, Green KM, Chambers AE, Krans A, Raimer HM, Sharlow ME, Reisinger MA, Richardson AE, Routh ED, Smaldino MA, Wang YH, Vaughn JP, Todd PK*, Smaldino PJ*: The RNA helicase DHX36-G4R1 modulates C9orf72 GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat-associated translation, J Biol Chem.29708/2021. PM34174288
  51. Malik I, Kelley CP, Wang ET*, Todd PK*: Molecular mechanisms underlying nucleotide repeat expansion disorders, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.22(9): 589-607, 09/2021. PM34140671
  52. Malik I, Tseng YJ, Wright SE, Zheng K, Ramaiyer P, Green KM, Todd PK*: SRSF protein kinase 1 modulates RAN translation and suppresses CGG repeat toxicity, EMBO Mol Med.2009/2021. PM34542927
  53. Hughes DL, Brunn JA, Jacobs J, Todd PK, Askari FK, Fontana RJ: Guillain-Barré Syndrome After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in a Liver Transplantation Recipient With Favorable Treatment Response, Liver Transpl.2022 Jan11/2021. PM34431208
  54. Bell HN, Rebernick RJ, Goyert J, Singhal R, Kuljanin M, Kerk SA, Huang W, Das NK, Andren A, Solanki S, Miller SL, Todd PK, Fearon ER, Lyssiotis CA, Gygi SP, Mancias JD, Shah YM: Reuterin in the healthy gut microbiome suppresses colorectal cancer growth through altering redox balance., Cancer Cell.2021 Dec12/2021. PM34951957
  55. Reyes CJ, Asano K, Todd PK, Klein C, Rakovic A: Repeat-Associated Non-AUG Translation of AGAGGG Repeats that Cause X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Movement Disorders.01/2022. PM35971992
  56. Zhang Y, Glineburg MR, Basrur V, Conlon K, Wright SE, Krans A, Hall DA, Todd PK*: Mechanistic convergence across initiation sites for RAN translation in fragile X associated tremor ataxia syndrome., Human molecular genetics.01/2022. PM35137065
  57. Hessl D, Rosselot H, Miller R, Espinal G, Famula J, Sherman SL, Todd PK, Cabal Herrera AM, Lipworth K, Cohen J, Hall DA, Leehey M, Grigsby J, Weber JD, Alusi S, Wheeler A, Raspa M, Hudson T, Sobrian SK: The International Fragile X Premutation Registry: building a resource for research and clinical trial readiness., Journal of medical genetics.01/2022. PM35701103.
  58. Green KM, Miller SL, Malik I, Todd PK*: Non-canonical initiation factors modulate repeat-associated non-AUG translation., Human molecular genetics.01/2022. PM35220421
  59. Kong HE, Lim J, Linsalata A, Kang Y, Malik I, Allen EG, Cao Y, Shubeck L, Johnston R, Huang Y, Gu Y, Guo X, Zwick ME, Qin Z, Wingo TS, Juncos J, Nelson DL, Epstein MP, Cutler DJ, Todd PK, Sherman SL, Warren ST, Jin P: Identification of PSMB5 as a genetic modifier of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.119(22)01/2022. PM35617426
  60. Wright SE, Rodriguez CM, Monroe J, Xing J, Krans A, Flores BN, Barsur V, Ivanova MI, Koutmou KS, Barmada SJ, Todd PK*: CGG repeats trigger translational frameshifts that generate aggregation-prone chimeric proteins, Nucleic Acids Research. 07/2022. PM35904811
  61. Tosin MH S, Stebbins GT, Goetz CG, Hagerman RJ, Hessl D, Zolecki MA, Todd PK, Leehey MA, Hall DA: Fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome rating scale: Revision and content validity using a mixed method approach, Frontiers in Neurology.1309/2022. PM36188408.
  62. Wright SE and Todd PK*:  Native functions of nucleotide repeats. Elife. 2023 Mar 20;12:e84043. PMID: 36940239

Web Sites

The Todd Lab
Michigan Expert Profile