The Newborn Screening Translational Research Network would like to honor Susan Berry, M.D. as the spotlight researcher of the month. Dr. Berry has a lifelong commitment to the newborn screening and genetics fields. She is widely recognized as an expert of inborn errors and metabolism and carries with her a broad range of experience in pediatric and adult genetic consultation. She has a long career providing care for children and adults with inborn errors of metabolism.
Dr. Berry completed her undergraduate work at Rice University where she majored in biochemistry. She went on the complete her doctor of medicine degree at the University of Kansas, School of Medicine. Since receiving her M.D. she has been at the University of Minnesota where she completed her residency in pediatrics and then received a fellowship afterwards in medical genetics. In 1984, Dr. Berry joined the University of Minnesota staff as a professor of pediatrics, ophthalmology, genetics, cell biology and development. Dr. Berry is currently the Program Director for the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics Child Health Research Center. In addition, she is a member of the Minnesota Department of Health Newborn Screening Advisory Committee which makes informed recommendations to add new disorders to the newborn screening panel.
Dr. Berry’s research and laboratory work has been most noteworthy. Her Minnesota laboratory has been working on defining the molecular actions of growth hormones. Since 2011, she has been working as a grantee with the Inborn Errors of Metabolism Collaborative (IBEMC) to define the history of inborn errors of metabolism and promote better care for children with these disorders.
Thank you, Dr. Berry, for your dedication to newborn screening research!