Elizabeth McNally, M.D., Ph.D. serves as the Elizabeth J. Ward Professor of Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. McNally is an expert in the genetics of myopathic processes that result in both muscle and heart degeneration. Her work focuses on defining and understanding genetic mechanisms of myopathies and specifically using quantitative trait locus mapping to identify genetic modifiers of these degenerative processes. These genetic signals are being used to develop novel therapies to treat these disorders. She has a special interest in neuromuscular genetic diseases like muscular dystrophy and inherited cardiomyopathies.

Her translational work was recognized by an award from the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation and as a recipient a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. She serves on the Advisory Boards for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, and is the Vice Chair for the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences of the American Heart Association. She is a past president of American Society for Clinical Investigation and a member of the Association of American Physicians. She is the founder of Ikaika Therapeutics.

Her events included a Career Development Q&A "From Bench to Bedside and Beyond" for early career junior investigators, fellows and trainees and a Seminar titled "Modifiers of Myopathy".  *These events were made possible by a generous gift from Martin Bloomfield, M.D. '60 to the CVRI.