William Rizzo, M.D., is the head of the new biochemical genetics specialty program at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute. He is a pediatrician from the Medical College of Virginia, where he researched inherited metabolic diseases for almost 20 years.

At MMI, Dr. Rizzo will study diseases that affect lipid metabolism, including Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome (SLS), a rare genetic disorder of fat metabolism causing neurologic and skin symptoms.  In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dr. Rizzo developed a specific laboratory test to detect this disease. Since then, his lab has been the major referral center for SLS patients.

On the clinical side, Dr. Rizzo also will head the Section of Inherited Metabolic Diseases in UNMC's department of pediatrics. Together with Richard Lutz, M.D., of MMI's endocrinology and genetics departments, he will take over the patient load of Hobart Wiltse, M.D., who recently retired from UNMC.

In these audio clips, Dr. Rizzo explains:

• His appreciation for UNMC's cutting-edge research.
• What he's trying to accomplish with his research.
• His role as a consultant for doctors across the nation.
• What causes metabolic disorders.
• The difficulty in diagnosing "orphan" metabolic diseases.
• Resources available on the Internet.
• His research focus on SLS, and taking advantage of UNMC's resources.
• How a genetically engineered mouse will help them understand how symptoms develop.
• The therapies for metabolic disorders.

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Related links:

• MMI becomes center of yet another genetic specialty
• Metabolism at UNMC has a new leader (see page 3)
• Lorenzo's oil for adrenoleukodystrophy and adrenomyeloneuropathy
• New research suggests early treatment with Lorenzo's Oil, low-fat diet can delay onset Of ALD
• Medicine and the Movies: Lorenzo's Oil at century's end
• United Leukodystrophy Foundation
• Julia's Hope, about an Omaha girl with a rare metabolic disorder. Also home of the Sanfilippo Syndrome Medical Reasearch Foundation, Inc.
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)