Patricia DeLeon

Patricia Anastastia Martin DeLeon (born 13 July 1944) is a Jamaican reproductive geneticist who specialists in the male reproductive system. She is the Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware. In 2010 she was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring by Barack Obama.

Patricia Anastastia Martin DeLeon
Born (1944-07-13) 13 July 1944
Port Maria
Alma mater
Scientific career
Institutions
ThesisChromosome studies of rabbit blastocysts resulting from spermatazoa aged in vivo (1972)

Early life and education

DeLeon was born in Port Maria. She was one of nine children, and had to lobby the principal of her high school, Excelsior High School, to waive the fees to allow her family to attend. She became interested in botany as a child and learnt the Latin names of all the plants that she collected.[1] The principal agreed based on DeLeon's academic performance. She attended the University of the West Indies for her undergraduate studies, where she focussed on zoology and chemistry. After earning her undergraduate degree DeLeon moved to Canada, where she joined the University of Western Ontario for her doctoral degree in microscopic anatomy.[2] She was subsequently a postdoc at McGill University.

Research and career

In 1976 DeLeon joined the faculty at the University of Delaware.[3] DeLeon has extensively studied the Sperm adhesion molecule 1 (SPAM1), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol linked membrane protein. The mechanisms that underpin the expression of these proteins are poorly understood, but are crucial for the development of assisted reproductive technology.[4] The over-expression of SPAM1 can give rise to cancer. In 2009 she was named the Trustees Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences.[5] Alongside her work on male fertility, DeLeon has studied particles in the fallopian tube, the understanding of which may improve the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation.[2] She is working on non-invasive diagnostic methods to identify embryos that are most likely to result in successful IVF.[6]

Throughout her career DeLeon has worked to support undergraduates gain research experience.[7]

Awards and honours

Selected publications
  • Martin-DeLeon, Patricia A. (2006). "Epididymal SPAM1 and its impact on sperm function". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 250 (1–2): 114–121. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2005.12.033. ISSN 0303-7207. PMID 16420970. S2CID 25997623.

References
  1. Nowak, Romana A. (2018-11-01). "An interview with Dr Patricia A. Martin-DeLeon". Biology of Reproduction. 99 (5): 899–902. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioy103. ISSN 0006-3363. PMID 30561557.
  2. "AlisonAwardDeLeon". www.bio.udel.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  3. "Patricia Martin-DeLeon". Icons. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  4. "Patricia A. DeLeon, PhD". Careers in Andrology. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  5. "Patricia DeLeon's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  6. contributor, Joey Davidson / (2017-01-13). "This UD researcher hopes to make in vitro fertilization much more affordable". Technical.ly Delaware. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  7. "PAESMEM » Awardee Profile". paesmem.net. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  8. "Patricia Martin-DeLeon: Scientist par Excellence! | Mona E-Connection". www.mona.uwi.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  9. "President Honors Outstanding Science, Math, Engineering Teachers and Mentors". whitehouse.gov. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  10. "11th William G. Demas Lecture". Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  11. "50 Most Outstanding Jamaican Women - Record". calameo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
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