Douglas Martin, Ph.D. Dr. Martin was born in northeastern Ohio and moved to central Alabama during childhood. The son of a teacher who majored in genetics and a nurse, Dr. Martin has a long-standing interest in biomedicine and health-related fields. Having lived on a family farm as a child, Dr. Martin is very comfortable in the veterinary and agricultural community. Dr. Martin is married with two children and many pets, acquired through his wife's veterinary practice, now located in Alexander City, Alabama. He and his family attend the Auburn United Methodist Church and enjoy many outdoor activities and sports. They are privileged to maintain strong ties with relatives and friends across the nation.
334-844-5951 martidr@auburn.edu
Research Interests Molecular therapy of neurodegenerative diseases Lysosomal storage diseases comprise a group of over forty related disorders that result from dysfunction of lysosomal enzymes or associated proteins. With a frequency of 1 in 7700 live births, these inherited diseases often occur in early childhood and most are currently untreatable. Dr. Martin studies therapeutic strategies for the neuropathic lysosomal storage diseases known as GM1 and GM2 gangliosidosis in well-characterized feline models. Although many types of molecular therapy are being considered, the laboratory focuses primarily on adult stem cell and/or gene therapy with lentiviral or adeno-associated viral vectors. Because normal or genetically engineered donor cells can transfer lysosomal enzymes to diseased cells through a process known as "cross-correction," stem cells are being evaluated as enzyme delivery vehicles. In a more direct approach, replication-defective viruses engineered to express a therapeutic lysosomal enzyme are used to restore enzymatic activity. Dr. Martin and collaborators expect that positive results in the feline model will lead to human clinical trials for these devastating diseases. Recent Publications Martin, DR. Gene Therapy of the Gangliosidoses. Auburn University, 1999. (dissertation) Baker HJ, Smith BF, Martin DR, Foureman P. Molecular diagnosis of gangliosidoses: a model for elimination of inherited diseases in pure breeds. in Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, 4th ed., by John R. August.  W.B. Saunders (Orlando) 2001:615-620. Martin DR, Cox NR, Hathcock TL, Niemeyer GP and Baker HJ.  Isolation and characterization of multipotential mesenchymal stem cells from feline bone marrow.  Exp Hematol 30:879-86 (2002). Martin DR, Krum BK, Varadarajan GS, Hathcock TL, Smith BF and Baker HJ. An Inversion of 25 Base Pairs Causes Feline GM2 Gangliosidosis Variant 0. Exp Neurol 187:30-37 (2004). Martin DR, Cox NR, Morrison NE, Kennamer DM, Peck SL, Dodson AN, Gentry AS, Griffin B, Rolsma MD and Baker HJ. Mutation of the GM2 activator protein in a feline model of GM2 gangliosidosis. Acta Neuropathol 110(5):443-50 (2005).