Wayne State University School of Medicine Professor and Chair of Pharmacology Sokol Todi, Ph.D., will lead a study section of the National Institutes of Health for a one-year term beginning in July. 

Dr. Todi, who is also a professor of Neurology, will serve as chair of the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section, part of the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience Integrated Review Group in the NIH’s Center for Scientific Research.

In the role, Dr. Todi will steer the discussion of each grant application discussed at the meeting and summarize strengths and weaknesses brought up during the discussion. The summary is used by the entire study section to determine scores given to each application.

"It is a demanding job, but it is also a very rewarding one,” he said. “What makes it highly rewarding is interacting with colleagues about science at the cutting edge and debating scientific notions and approaches. It is a tough job that I take very seriously. After all, it has to do with people’s careers and their aspirations. But the energy in the room as applications are discussed is a great reward.”

Dr. Todi previously served as alternate chair and associate chair of the same study section, as well as a member of various study sections for the NIH, including Chronic Dysfunction and Integrative Neurodegeneration and various Special Emphasis panels.

He was nominated for the chair role due to his demonstrated competence and achievement in his scientific discipline, evidenced by the quality of his research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors.

During his time at Wayne State, Dr. Todi has been funded through R00, R01 and R21 mechanisms from the NIH, as well as funds from non-governmental organizations such as the National Ataxia Foundation, which recognized him two years in a row as a Young Investigator in Spinocerebellar Ataxias, and more recently with the Pioneer Award. His laboratory investigates mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins, with particular focus on polyglutamine disease proteins.