Melissa P. Wasserstein

  • ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Genetics and Genomic Sciences
  • ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Pediatrics
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Specialty

Certifications

  • Clinical Biochemical Genetics

  • American Board of Pediatrics

Clinical Focus

Education

  • MD, New York University

  • B.S, Cornell University

  • Residency, Pediatrics
    Mount Sinai Hospital

  • Fellowship, Human Genetics
    Mount Sinai Hospital

Biography

    Clinical Interests: Medical Genetics, Pediatric Genetics, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Newborn Screening, Urea Cycle Disorders, Hyperammonemia, Fatty Acid Oxidation Defects, Organic Acidemias, Maple Syrup Urine Disease

    Dr. Wasserstein is the Director of the Program for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (PIMD) at Mount Sinai Medical Center. This program is one of the largest metabolic disease treatment programs in the country, treating several hundred patients who are diagnosed with rare inborn errors of metabolism. The PIMD is a New York State Newborn Screening designated referral center for infants with inherited metabolic diseases, and is also the leading referral center in the region for the evaluation of patients with suspected inborn errors of metabolism. Disorders that are treated at the PIMD include:

        * Phenylketonuria (PKU)
        * Maple Syrup Urine Disease
        * Homocystinuria
        * Urea Cycle Defects
        * Galactosemia
        * Organic Acidemias
        * Fatty Acid Oxidation Defects
        * Glycogen Storage Diseases
        * Mitochondrial Diseases
        * Tyrosinemia
        * Disorders of cobalamin metabolism
        * Biotinidase deficiency

    Dr. Wasserstein is part of Mount Sinai's International Center for Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease. She is also a clinical researcher, focusing on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of novel treatments for patients with inborn errors of metabolism.

    In the News:
    Dr. Wasserstein discusses testing babies for metabolic disorders in the The Daily News feature, The Daily Check Up.

Research

Clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new treatments for patients with

  • Phenylketonuria

    • Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease

    Publications

    McGovern MM, Wasserstein MP, Giugliani R, Bembi B, Vanier MT, Mengel E, Brodie SE, Mendelson D, Skloot G, Desnick RJ, Kuriyama N, Cox GF. A prospective, cross-sectional survey study of the natural history of Niemann-Pick disease type B. Pediatrics 2008 Aug; 122(2): e341-349.

    Wasserstein M, McGovern MM. Genetic basis of the lipid storage disorders. Future Lipidology 2008 April; 3(2): 189-201.

    Willis A, Vanhuse C, Newton K, Wasserstein M, Morotti R. Farber Disease Type IV Presenting with Cholestatic Jaundice and neonatal liver failure:Report of Two Cases. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2007 Sept; 28(1).

    Mc Guire PJ, Lim-Melia E, Diaz GA, Raymond K, Larkin A, Wasserstein MP, Sansaricq C. Combined liver-kidney transplant for the management of methylmalonic aciduria: A case report and review of the literature. Mol Genet Metab 2007 Oct 25;.

    Salomons GS, Gibson KM, Landegge Pope L, Errami A, Potter M, Nowaczyk M, Olpin S, Manning N, Raiman JJ, Slade T, Champion MP, Peck D, Gavrilov D, Hillman R, Hoganson GE, Donaldson K, Shield JH, Ketteridge D, Wasserstein MP, Jakobs C. Clinical, enzymatic and molecular characterization of nine new patients with malonyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase deficiency. J Inherit Metab Dis 2007 Feb; 30(1): 23-28.

    Wasserstein MP, Aron A, McGovern MM, Simonaro C, Desnick RJ, Brodie SE. Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency: Prevalence and characterization of an intermediate phenotype of Niemann-Pick disease. J Pediat 2006 October; 149(4): 554-559.

    McGovern MM, Aron A, Wasserstein MP, Desnick RJ, Brodie SE. Natural history of Type A Niemann-Pick disease: possible endpoints for therapeutic trials. Neurology 2006 Jan 24; 66(2): 228-232.

    Wasserstein MP, Buchsbaum MS, Sansaricq C, Snyderman SE. Cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with early treated classical phenylketonuria. Molec Genet Metab 2006 March; 87: 272-277.

    Mendelson DS, Wasserstein MP, Desnick RJ, Glass R, McGovern MM, Skloot G, Vanier M, Bembi B, Giugliani R, Simpson W. Findings and Pulmonary Function in Niemann-Pick Disease Type B. Radiology 2006 Jan; 238(1): 339-345.

    Wasserstein MP, Desnick RJ, Schuchman EH, McGovern MM, Wallenstein S, Lamm C, Hossain S. Natural history of type B Niemann-Pick Disease: results from a ten. Pediatrics 2004 Dec; 114(6): 672-677.

    Industry Relationships

    Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.

    Dr. Wasserstein did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

    Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.

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