Michael Gelb PhD

Professor Michael Gelb is the Boris and Barbara L. Weinstein Endowed Chair in Chemistry in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle. Professor Gelb’s laboratory developed the technology that brought newborn screening (NBS) for Krabbe disease to the forefront and led to New York being the first to begin statewide NBS for Krabbe disease in 2006.

Since its initial inception, Gelb has worked closely with Dr. Dietrich Matern, at the Mayo Clinic in MN, and Dr. Joseph Orsini, at the Wadsworth Center in NY, to develop methods to improve screening, diagnostic challenges, and prognostic testing for Krabbe disease. This team continues to monitor newborn screening and post-screening data to further define the best approach to newborn screening and follow-up for Krabbe disease. This work will provide the foundation for a successful nomination of Krabbe disease to the RUSP.