Wexler, Nancy (1945–)
Wexler, Nancy (1945–)
American psychologist and medical researcher. Born Nancy Sabin Wexler, July 19, 1945, in Washington, DC; dau. of Milton (psychoanalyst) and Leonore Wexler; sister of Alice Wexler (writer); University of Michigan, PhD, 1974.
Developed interest in inherited brain disorders after mother was diagnosed with Huntington's disease (formerly Huntington's chorea); cofounded Hereditary Disease Foundation with father (1974), to find a cure for Huntington's disease, and later served as president (1983); elected head of Human Genome Project research committee (1989) to research legal, ethical, and social implications of testing for inherited diseases; convinced 6 US and British laboratories to work with Huntington Disease Foundation, which led to successful location of Huntington disease gene (1993); became professor (1985), then full professor (1992) of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons; elected fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (2002).