Dr. John P. Punke Endowed Chair in Neurology Awarded to Daniel R. Scoles, PhD
Dr. John P. Punke Endowed Chair in Neurology Awarded to Daniel R. Scoles, PhD
The gift of $1 million has created the Dr. John P. Punke Endowed Chair in Neurology, with Daniel R. Scoles, PhD, professor of neurology, as the inaugural chair holder.
Daniel R. Scoles, PhD, professor of neurology and distinguished researcher, was honored during an investiture ceremony on Wednesday, October 6, 2025, as the inaugural holder of the Dr. John P. Punke Endowed Chair in Neurology. This is the third endowed chair position in the Department of Neurology at the University of Utah.
Few academic recognitions carry more prestige than an endowed chair. These positions are supported by permanent funds established through significant donations, allowing faculty members to pursue cutting-edge research while honoring the generosity of donors who share their vision for medical advancement.
"Endowed chairs provide a unique partnership between our donors and our faculty," said Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, during her remarks at the ceremony. "Both of them are invested in the future of academic medicine, of clinical care, of education and research."
A Personal Connection to the Science
This chair exists because Dr. Punke's story is deeply tied to the science many researchers in the department have pursued for decades. The Punke gift aims to drive critical investigation into inherited diseases of the nervous system, with an emphasis on spinocerebellar ataxias, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease, preferably with a focus on ATXN2 and related proteins.
John P. Punke, DVM, MS, DACVS, DECVS, trained to become a veterinarian and a specialist in small animal surgery in America before moving to Australia to work until his diagnosis of ALS in 2023. Since then, he has been a champion of ALS research with a focus on finding a cure. He was diagnosed with ALS associated with a mutation in the ATXN2 gene, a gene discovered by researchers in the Pulst-Scoles Lab.
After his diagnosis, Dr. Punke sought out the leading researchers in the field and found them at the University of Utah. "When I was diagnosed with ALS, I read many academic papers around the topic, the ATXN2 abnormality in particular," Dr. Punke shared in his remarks, delivered by his niece Candace Todd via Zoom during the investiture. "I found Drs. Scoles and Pulst to be at the forefront of the ALS research."
Dr. Punke enrolled in a clinical trial that was developed in part by Scoles, in collaboration with a pharmaceutical company. The trial tested an antisense oligonucleotide, a type of gene therapy, targeting the ATXN2 gene. While the trial ultimately failed and was halted in 2024, Dr. Punke's experience with the research team left a lasting impression and a desire to help their mission move forward.
"When I look back at my life, the one thing that I would give all that I have to change would be my abnormal ATXN2 gene," Dr. Punke said. "Unfortunately, a cure won't come soon enough for me, but it brings me comfort to be a small part of the solution to this horrible disease."
Scoles' Journey with ATXN2
Scoles' research on ATXN2 began three decades ago. "My own journey with ATXN2 began in 1994 as a postdoc with Stefan Pulst," he said during his acceptance speech. "In 1996, our lab identified mutations in ATXN2 as the cause of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2."
Years later, in 2010, a surprising connection was made: mutations in ATXN2 could also predispose to ALS. By 2017, Scoles and his colleagues knew that lowering ATXN2 expression could lengthen the lifespan of ALS mice. That discovery inspired the development of BIIB105, an antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic that advanced to clinical trials.
"I, along with Dr. Pulst and our team, led the preclinical development of the drug," Scoles explained. "Unfortunately, the trial did not succeed and was halted in 2024. Dr. Punke was a participant. Dr. Punke's courage, and the courage of all the participants in the trial, continues to drive us forward."
Scoles' research focuses on therapeutic development for neurodegenerative disorders, including spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and Parkinson's disease. He uses cutting-edge methods to rapidly screen potential treatments, develops therapies that target specific genes, and studies how gene activity changes in disease, all to discover new treatment approaches and better understand how these conditions develop.
Moving Forward with a New Therapeutic Target
Despite the setback of the failed clinical trial, research continues. "We are not stopping here," Scoles said. "My lab—and Dr. Pulst's lab and our collaborators—are pursuing new approaches, new targets, and new strategies to change the trajectory of ALS and related diseases."
Among these new directions, Scoles' team has procured a five-year grant from the NIH to develop a new therapeutic target. They are also developing antisense oligonucleotides targeting STAUFEN1, a protein that interacts with ATXN2, and developing compounds for lowering STAUFEN1 bonds through an interdepartmental collaboration on campus with a focus on ALS.
"We are at the point in history when we are diagnosing the genetic causes of diseases and targeting them directly," Dr. Punke said. "I believe that this approach will have the greatest impact on clinical outcomes. An exciting time indeed, and I am very happy to play a small role in creating a future where ALS is treatable and perhaps preventable."
A Legacy of Generosity
Dr. Punke's gift represents more than financial support—it is a testament to a life well-lived and a commitment to helping others even in the face of devastating illness.
Steve Budsberg, DVM, MS, DACVS, who supervised Dr. Punke during his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Georgia, spoke about Dr. Punke's remarkable qualities. "Understand that John is funding an endowed chair against the disease that's going to take his life," Budsberg said. "How many people would do that? How many people would have the foresight and the wherewithal to think about others instead of themselves?"
Budsberg also noted Dr. Punke's exceptional accomplishments in veterinary surgery, including becoming a diplomate of both the American and European colleges of veterinary surgeons. "That's very rare. You need to understand there are fewer than 10 people who have done that in the world," he said.
Hope for the Future
The Punke contribution supports research that aims to bring about new insights into how neurodegeneration works and to develop treatments that could benefit patients with ALS and related diseases. It is this combination of philanthropy and science that paves the way for a brighter future.
"Thank you again, Dr. Punke, for your generosity and your commitment to this work," Duffin said at the ceremony's close. "Your endowment ensures the future for other scientists and physicians."
Top Row, L - R: Investiture ceremony. Dr. Punke's niece, Candace Todd, speaks on behalf of her uncle via Zoom; Kristina Callis Duffin, MD, dean of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, delivers her remarks at the ceremony; Stefan M. Pulst, MD, Dr med, Chair of the Neurology Department, speaks to the audience.
Bottom Row, L - R: Dr. Punke's mentor and friend Steve Budsberg, DVM, MS, DACVS, speaks via Zoom; Daniel R. Scoles, PhD, gives his acceptance speech; Framed endowed chair award.