David H. Gutmann
American neurologist
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Raised in Michigan, Gutmann spent summers during his high school volunteering at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, sparking his passion for medicine. While receiving an undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, Gutmann was introduced to the budding field of genetics, the influence of which sowed seeds for his later research work. As an undergraduate, he also worked as a college disc jockey and attended numerous jazz concerts in Ann Arbor, establishing a life-long love of jazz music.
Further pursuing his education, Gutmann went on to complete his MD and PhD degrees at the University of Michigan. Under the guidance of John E. Niederhuber, he received his PhD in immunogenetics, graduating with distinction in 1986. Gutmann then completed his Neurology residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, spending time in the laboratory of Kenneth Fischbeck, where he was mentored in neurogenetics.
Returning to the University of Michigan for his postdoctoral research fellowship in Human Genetics, Gutmann joined the laboratory of Francis S. Collins. Collins and his team had just cloned the NF1 gene, and Gutmann was tasked with establishing the function of the NF1 gene. During his tenure with Collins, Gutmann identified the NF1 protein, neurofibromin, and proceeded to investigate its function as a RAS regulator.
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Research and career
Gutmann was recruited to Washington University in St. Louis in 1993. He became a full Professor in 2001, and then the Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor in 2002. In 2004, Gutmann founded the Washington University Neurofibromatosis (NF) Center and directs the Washington University NF Clinical Program. In addition to numerous grant review panels and journal editorial boards, he served as a member of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Advisory Council. Gutmann is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association of American Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine. For his contributions to NF and neuro-oncology, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the 2002 National Neurofibromatosis Foundation Center of Excellence Award, the 2012 Children's Tumor Foundation Frederich von Recklinghausen Award, the 2019 Society for Neuro-Oncology Abhijit Award, and the 2020 American Academy of Neurology Neuro-Oncology Investigator Award. In addition, Gutmann currently serves on the Board of Directors for Jazz St. Louis.
Over the past 30 years at Washington University in St. Louis, the Gutmann laboratory has published over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Currently, his research team uses human biospecimens and novel genetically engineered mouse strains to investigate the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of neurofibromatosis. They are employing these preclinical mouse models to better understand the cellular origins of tumors, the contribution of the tumor microenvironment to tumor formation and growth, and the major growth control pathways that dictate brain development in NF1. The ultimate goal of Gutmann's research is to be able to predict which course NF1 will take in any given individual, and to engineer treatment plans based on those predictions.
As Director of the Washington University NF Center, Gutmann focuses on providing care to those affected with neurofibromatosis. Beyond the hospital, care is also provided through several complementary care programs: Beat NF(now Music Heals) provides jazz-music therapy for affected toddlers, Club NF provides play-based therapy for school-aged children, and Totally Teen NF serves as a peer support and social skills group for affected adolescents. Music Heals is a collaboration between the Washington University NF Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and Jazz St. Louis, the only jazz music-based motor therapy program for children with NF1.