Department of Neurology

Jacinda Sampson, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Education:

  • Undergraduate: St. Mary’s College of Maryland
  • Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Graduate School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Internship/Residency: University of Utah
  • Fellowship: Neurogenetics at University of Utah


Clinical Interests:

Muscular Dystrophy- myotonic dystrophies

Neurogenetics- Huntington’s disease, Neurofibromatosis.

Research Interests:

Familial Restless Legs Syndrome

Member of:
World Muscle Society
World Association of Sleep Medicine and Internaional Pediatric Sleep Association
International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group
American Academy of Neurology


Dr. Jacinda Sampson received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology and Music performance (piano) at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.  She then enrolled in the MSTP program at University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she received her medical and doctoral degrees.  Her doctoral research was done in the lab of Dr. Joe Beckman, on the interaction of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)- associated mutations in copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and other metalloproteins with free radicals.


Dr Sampson moved to Salt Lake City for her internship and neurology residency at the University of Utah, where she served as chief resident.  She then pursued her interests in genetics in a 2-year fellowship in neurogenetics.  Dr Sampson has obtained NIH funding through a K23 award to study the genetics of restless legs syndrome in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Leppert. 


In 2006, Dr Sampson joined the neurology faculty as Assistant Professor in the neuromuscular group.  Her clinics include muscular dystrophy association (MDA) clinic and neurogenetics clinic.  She is also director of the Neurology and Neurosurgery Grand Rounds lecture series.

Selected Publications:

  • Crow, J.P., J.B. Sampson, Y. Zhuang, J.A. Thompson, J.S. Beckman.  Decreased zinc affinity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated superoxide dismutase mutants leads to enhanced catalysis of tyrosine nitration by peroxynitrite. J. Neurochem. Nov 69(5):1936-44, 1997.
  • Sampson, J.B., Y. Ye, H. Rosen, J.S. Beckman. Myeloperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase catalyze tyrosine nitration in proteins from nitrite and hydrogen peroxide. Arch. Biochem Biophys. Aug 15, 356(2):207-13, 1998.
  • Sampson, J.B., J.S. Beckman.  Hydrogen peroxide damages the zinc-binding site of zinc-deficient Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. Aug 1, 392(1):8-13, 2001.

Book Chapters:

  • Sampson, J.B., J.P. Crow, M. Strong, J.S. Beckman. Copper/Zinc Superoxide Dismutases in CNS. In: Mineral and Metal Neurotoxicology (ed. M. Yasui) CRC Press, Inc, Boca Raton, pp 395-405, 1996