Geneticist Dr. David Vigerust joins Stephanie to discuss the connection between sleep and sleep deprivation in Autism.

Dr. Vigerust received a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso, a master’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Texas Tech University and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Vigerust conducted post-doctoral research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Vigerust completed a second post-doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical School in the Department of Pediatrics Disease in the area of molecular biology. Dr. Vigerust was a faculty member in the Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology Department at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Health Research Scientist in the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Most recently, Dr. Vigerust is the Director of Clinical Affairs and molecular scientist for a diagnostics laboratory focused around precision medicine, genomics and infectious disease. Dr. Vigerust has published extensively in international journals, presented his research at national and international conferences and is an active editor and reviewer for several prominent journals. Dr. Vigerust has developed several novel molecular diagnostic assays for the prediction of cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes, infectious disease and cancer. Dr. Vigerust speaks often on the subject of precision medicine and was selected as a TEDx speaker in 2016.

Dr. Vigerust currently maintains an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Neurological Surgery and a Clinical Assistant Professor position with the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy. Dr. Vigerust’s academic and research interests focus around areas of precision medicine in the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders , diagnostics, infectious disease, and neuroinflammation.