Research

In 2009, I led the construction of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory (MGL), the first biological research laboratory in Gallaudet’s then-144 year history. It was the first research lab to be built following DeafSpace architectural principles, which emphasizes universal access. The MGL was staffed by our beloved technician, Beth Craft. Deaf undergraduate students and deaf summer interns rotated through it. We did not have a graduate program. I directed the lab until 2018.

Research Focus

My research focuses on explaining the worldwide prevalence of three specific variants of the connexin 26 (GJB2) gene. These three variants cause more than half of congenital severe-to-profound deafness in European (35delG), Ashkenazi Jewish (167delT), and Asian (235delC) ancestries. As a secondary focus, I’m also studying the history of 19th century genetics research on deafness.

Selected Publications

Most of my other publications are listed on PubMed and Google Scholar.

Deaf intermarriage has limited effect on the prevalence of recessive deafness and no effect on underlying allelic frequency.
Braun DC, Jain S, Epstein E, Greenwald BH, Herold B, Gray M.
Plos One. 2020;15(11):e0241609. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241609
We counteracted the persistent claim, popularized by Alexander Graham Bell in his address to the National Academy of Sciences, that deaf intermarriage is driving the prevalence of deafness.

Welcoming Deaf Students into STEM: Recommendations for University Science Education
Braun DC, Clark MD, Marchut AE, Solomon CM, Majocha M, Davenport Z, Kushalnagar RS, Listman J, Hauser PC, Gormally C.
CBE Life Sci Educ 2018 Fall; 17(3): es10. doi: 10.1187/cbe.17-05-0081
This review collates the best practices for teaching and mentoring deaf STEM students.

The Deaf Mentoring Survey: A Community Cultural Wealth Framework for Measuring Mentoring Effectiveness with Underrepresented Students
Braun DC, Gormally C, Clark MD.
CBE Life Sci Educ. 2017;16(1):ar10. doi: 10.1187/cbe.15-07-0155
This is one of the first papers quantitatively showing the importance of cultural competence in mentoring for any underrepresented group.

Analysis by fluorescent resonance energy transfer of the interaction between ligands and protein kinase C delta in the intact cell
Braun DC, Garfield SH, Blumberg PM.
J Biol Chem 2005 Mar 4;280(9):8164-71. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M413896200
We developed a high-throughput, in vivo tool for screening drug binding to PKC delta, a therapeutic target. This tool had the additional advantage of being able to be introduced into different cell/tissue types.

Role of phorbol ester localization in determining protein kinase C or RasGRP3 translocation: real time analysis using fluorescent ligands and proteins.
Braun DC, Cao Y, Wang S, Garfield SH, Hur GM, Blumberg PM.
Mol Cancer Ther. 2005 Jan;4(1):141- 50. PMID: 15657361

The lgtABCDE gene cluster, involved in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, contains multiple promoter sequences.
Braun DC, Stein DC.
J Bacteriol 2004 Feb;186(4):1038-49. doi: 10.1128/JB.186.4.1038-1049.2004