By NODCC Storyteller, Miriam Bernard
Welcome to a collaboration with the NODCC and its key researchers from around the globe, in which we introduce our community members to the specific research of friends of the NODCC. Today we’re proud to introduce you to Ella Bohlman, Research Assistant to Dr. Lynn K. Paul.
Ella Bohlman does impressive work in the field of infant and child DCC research, but when interviewed, it’s her heart for DCC families that shines brightest. She shared, “I’ve talked to a lot of new parents or expecting parents who say, ‘We went to a doctor and got a diagnosis, and they said, ‘We don’t really know, good luck!’ That really is a shared experience, so part of my personal motivation now is that I want to show people – it’s going to be okay. If I can contribute to that peace in any way, I will be very grateful to do so.”
Bohlman, a resident of Chicago, received her B.S. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign in May 2024. She currently works remotely with Dr. Lynn Paul on studies taking place at Dr. Paul’s home base of Caltech, as well as collaborations with researchers at the University of Minnesota, assisting Dr. Paul with DCC infant and child studies. When asked about working alongside Dr. Paul, Ella recounts, “Working with somebody who has put so much knowledge into the world about disorders of the corpus callosum makes me feel so lucky to be learning from her. She has a perspective that is so unique. Interacting with everyone in the NODCC specifically has been great, and it’s been such a wonderful experience.”
Ella met Dr. Paul through a mutual acquaintance from her hometown in her sophomore year of college. Dr. Paul was conducting research with fellow researcher Jasmin Turner, and was in need of additional assistance. Upon meeting Ella, Dr. Paul felt the partnership would be what they both were looking for. Ella then did a summer program, and it felt right. “Three years later, here I am,” she recounts, “and I absolutely adore the work. I can’t imagine not being a part of this.”
What makes Dr. Paul and Ella’s research unique is that they are focusing solely on infants and children. Ella shares, “If we know how these disorders affect children, we can help them reach their fullest potential. That is our main goal.” Secondly, Dr. Paul, Ella, and their team want to make valuable DCC information available to everyone, preparing a community report of sorts, and presenting data in a format that’s easier to decipher than dense scientific articles, so data is accessible and comprehensible.
This year Ella is also doing a fellowship sponsored by the NODCC, working with the board to tailor research in their Natural History Project, collecting background information from participants in their infant and child study. There is a wealth of knowledge to be explored in areas such as medical history, pregnancy history, and birth history, but thus far that data has remained untouched. Ella’s involvement in the project is taking the time to dive into that existing data from roughly 400 total participating families, to see what their experiences have been so far. For many of those, there is years’ worth of information. Ella is so appreciative people have been so willing to help with this research, and this is her way to finally give that back to them.
Dr. Paul and Ella’s infant and child study currently has at least 250 active participants. The infant-specific study involves participants who join before their child is 6 or 12 months. Parents are asked to complete a survey and a phone interview when their child is 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. The child study is a continuation of the infant study and involves an annual survey up to age 17. Both studies are currently recruiting new participants, and anyone interested in joining either study can learn more by clicking HERE.
When not busy researching DCCs, Ella enjoys knitting and crocheting. She is also an avid reader and she plays the saxophone. The NODCC is very grateful to Ella for her commitment to DCC research and the time spent sharing with us about her important work.