Research Rebecca German Named in Science Magazine

Did you know that one branch of mammals is unable to suckle milk from their mothers? Animals like platypuses and spiny anteaters slurp their milk, because their mothers don’t have nipples.

Rebecca German, Ph.D., a professor of anatomy and neurobiology, was recently quoted by Science magazine in an article explaining the importance of suckling in mammals.

Alfred “Fuzz” Crompton, Ph.D., one of Dr. German’s mentors and a longtime collaborator, and Dr. German were both interviewed for Science magazine’s article.

The magazine notes, “The work is ‘incredibly interesting and really important’ for understanding mammalian evolution, says neurophysiologist Rebecca German of Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown. ‘They are beginning to understand the part of the anatomy that is critical to infant feeding.’”

Dr. German currently researches swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) with infant piglets and the protection of respiratory airways in pre-term infants to learn more about how swallowing goes wrong in neurodegenerative diseases in humans.