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Women of Distinction

ASHLEY BRENTON, PHD

Leading the way in Pain Research

Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions

Ashley Brenton was a child who knew me was that I had the guts to come to him DNA can lead to differences in the im-
what she wanted and as an adult she is doing and say, Hey, this is what I want to do. And so, mune system and how that affects malaria
exactly what she planned. She credits a lot he thought, why not? Why not give her this infections. Malaria is a huge problem in
of her success to the very first school she chance?” many parts of the world. There are millions
attended, and it has served her well over of infections and tons of deaths, primarily in
the years. “I attended Saint George’s school small children.
in Spokane, Washington. It's an experien- Her research took her to Africa, where she
tial-based college preparatory school that did field work. “We went into small towns and
provided students with freedom to explore villages and we would go to the chief or the
and a great education from kindergarten elder at the village and say, we're scientists
through 12th grade.” from America, we are part of a program
Ashley knew she wanted to pursue a where we can teach African scientists to con-
career in science but was unsure in what duct malaria research so they could then go
area. During her early years at Saint George’s back to their home country and lead research
she developed an interest in Johns Hopkins programs.”
University. “Whenever I saw something about Ashley and her team collected mosqui-
a new discovery or a new disease in the toes from the villages, since they transmit
news, it always referenced the researchers malaria and studied them hoping to find a
from Johns Hopkins University. As a little kid way to prevent the spread of this disease.
I remember thinking, Whoa, that's where I “I will never forget the words of one of the
want to go.” chiefs. He said something surprising to me,
When the time came for applying to he said, it’s great, but when are you going to
colleges, there was no question where her do something that actually helps us? And it
application would be sent. With top grades, was at this point that I realized that timing
drive and a thirst for knowledge, Ashley was is key, and it's important to have something
accepted and without so much as a trip in to put in people's hands. And I didn't really
advance to view the campus, she began her know what to do with that comment at
college career at Johns Hopkins. the time, but it planted a seed that would
Ashley thrived in this environment, “We certainly have a big influence on my career
were continually exposed to some of the development.”
top minds in science and research. I thought He was the director of the Malaria After Ashley finished her PhD, she moved
about majoring in premed but soon found Research Institute’s Gene Array Core Facility. to San Diego to complete her postdoctoral
my passion was research.” So, Ashley started working in this area and fellowship at the Scripps Research Institute.
Always up for a challenge, after her fresh- became especially interested in the research “I worked on how to genetically engineer
man year she researched the top professors he was doing. It was at this point that Ashley vaccines. It's always a medical goal to have
in public health, the area in which she felt realized she had found her calling, “I knew something that can prevent disease. We were
best suited her, and made her plea “I was that I wanted to continue to work in genom- using some different high tech genetic engi-
just 19 and I went into this professor’s lab ics and in an area that had a big public health neering approaches to do this. It was at this
and said, Hi I'm Ashley and this is really what impact.” Genomics is an area within genetics point, that the pieces started to fit together.
I want to do. I love the work you are doing that concerns the sequencing and analysis It was becoming clear to me that I really did
in your lab and I would be honored to work of an organism's genome. The genome is the not want the traditional academic career
with you, but I'm putting myself through entire DNA content that is present within path. Part of it was getting back to what that
school, so I need a paid position.” one cell of an organism. Experts in genomics village Chief had said to me in Africa. When
He could tell from her determination that strive to determine complete DNA sequences are you going to do something that actually
this was a special student, so he agreed. She and perform genetic mapping to help un- helps us? It was at this point that I decided
worked in that lab throughout college, and derstand disease. Ashley had been studying to enter private industry and I married those
for a year afterwards as well. “He was a won- malaria, and she was looking at how changes interests in public health and genomics and
derful mentor to me and almost immediately in DNA can lead to susceptibility to diseases moved into the field of precision medicine.”
treated me as if I was a grad student. He gave like malaria, and how we use DNA to prevent For those of us unfamiliar with this area, I
me my own research projects and allowed transmission of these different infectious asked Ashley to explain, “Precision medicine
me to give presentations on my findings. I diseases? entails looking at each person as an indi-
was so fortunate. He was wonderful. And I Ashley continued her education at UC vidual and treating everyone individually.
remember him telling me when I got older Davis for her PhD under Dr. Shirley Luckhart So instead of saying, okay, you have breast
that one of the characteristics he liked about and focused on how different changes in cancer, you should be treated this way. You

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