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Allen-Sharpley Lab

Dr. Allen-Sharpley is a physician specializing in pediatric neuromuscular medicine and a principal investigator in the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute. She treats children with neurologic and nerve-muscle dysfunction who suffer from progressive muscle weakness and/or dysfunction of sensory and balance systems. Her current research focuses on the creation of 3D in vitro models of pediatric neuromuscular disease using stem cells derived from her patients. These patient-specific cellular constructs provide a platform for testing and developing novel therapeutics using a precision medicine approach.

Cedars-Sinai researcher, Michelle Allen-Sharpley, MD, PhD
Personal Statement

Dr. Allen-Sharpley earned her PhD in neurobiology and behavior from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where she studied how neural circuits form in the developing auditory system. She received recognition for distinction in research upon completing her MD degree in 2015. Her work in neuroscience motivated her to understand brain-body circuitry in development and disease, and prompted her further clinical training in pediatric neurology and neuromuscular medicine at UCLA. Upon completion of training, she was hired at Cedars-Sinai as a clinician scientist in 2021, where she has been developing patient-derived 3D in vitro tissue models of congenital muscular dystrophies and (non-SMA) motor neuron disease, two categories of neuromuscular diseases affecting children that currently have no treatment or cure."


Michelle Allen-Sharpley, MD, PhD

Breakthrough Research Areas

  • Creating in vitro models of neuromuscular conditions to better elucidate disease pathology.
  • Testing genetic modification strategies and other novel therapeutics such as antisense oligonucleotides on in vitro models representing the patient’s disease state.
  • Developing precision medicine for genetic neuromuscular conditions.

Meet Our Team


Learn more about the scientists, faculty members, investigators and other healthcare professionals of the Allen-Sharpley Laboratory, whose dedicated efforts lead to groundbreaking discoveries.

Publications


Lee MM, McDowell GSV, De Vivo DC, Friedman D, Berkovic SF, Spanou M, Dinopoulos A, Grand K, Sanchez-Lara PA, Allen-Sharpley M, et al.

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2022 Dec;9(12):1941-1952.

Rotschafer SE, Allen-Sharpley MR, Cramer KS.

Front Neural Circuits. 2016 Oct 24;10:84.

Allen-Sharpley MR, Tjia M, Cramer KS.

J Vis Exp. 2013 Mar 18;(73):e50305.

Contact the Allen-Sharpley Lab

Cedars-Sinai Pavilion, Regenerative Medicine Institute
127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Suite 8405, RMI Lab—SE
Los Angeles, CA 90048