On Nov. 30, 2024, Karra Jones, MD, PhD, gave a talk titled "Vacuolar Myopathies" at the Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin Autumn Meeting held at the Reference Center for Neuromuscular diseases in Berlin, Germany. Werner Stenzel, MD, a neuropathologist and myopathologist at the Charité Hospital, extended the speaking invitation to Jones.
Jones’ talk illustrated examples of a selection of genetic neuromuscular diseases called vacuolar myopathies that result from alterations in lysosomal/autophagic pathways due to germline gene mutations. These are rare diseases that lead to skeletal muscle and sometimes cardiac muscle weakness. Muscle biopsies show vacuoles in multiple forms in frozen tissue and by electron microscopy. She discussed clues to the pathologic diagnosis and pathogenesis of the selected diseases.
Jones is an associate professor of Neuropathology and the medical director of Duke’s Clinical Electron Microscopy and Immunochemistry Laboratory. She also serves as section head of the Muscle & Nerve Pathology Division; and as director of the Neuropathology Fellowship Program.
Since her arrival at Duke in April, 2022, Jones has been working toward expansion of the neuromuscular service to allow for a larger outreach capacity and enhanced tissue analysis modalities through the Clinical Electron Microscopy and Immunochemistry Lab.
Outside of Duke, she holds leadership roles in the American Association of Neuropathologists as the current assistant secretary-treasurer and chair of the Education Committee.