November 2008

A new two-volume reference set edited by IGSP Director Huntington Willard and Director of the IGSP's Center for Genomic Medicine Geoff Ginsburg covers the scientific foundations and practical applications of new discoveries in genomic medicine, as well as the ethical, legal/regulatory and social issues related to its practice. The books, entitled Genomic and Personalized Medicine, include chapters by many of the world's leading experts in the field, including several from the IGSP.

Learn more about this more than 1,500 page work that Ginsburg calls the first definitive and comprehensive texts on genomic and personalized medicine, along with David Goldstein’s recent book Jacob’s Legacy: A Genetic View of Jewish History, on the IGSP's new "Books by IGSP Authors" web page. Stay tuned to this site as it grows to include previously published books by IGSP authors, as well as books yet to come.

Getting Personal
In a Nature editorial, Bob Cook-Deegan says that people can now get their genome information, and, if they can, they will—with or without the advice of experts.

Translational Research Takes the Spotlight at Genome Canada Meeting
As whole genome sequencing grows more common, inevitable patent infringement may spur increasingly nuanced debate regarding genetic patents and related policies, Bob Cook-Deegan says in a GenomeWeb report.

Taking a Peek at the Experts’ Genetic Secrets
In a New York Times article about Harvard’s Personal Genome Project, reporter Amy Harmon asks whether Misha Angrist, one of the so-called PGP-10, could have inherited a high risk of breast cancer that he may have passed on to his young daughters.

Genome Fanatics to Post Own DNA Sequences on Web
An Associated Press report on the PGP-10 says that the IGSP’s Misha Angrist plans to make his medical records public, but is still debating about releasing his sequencing information.

Genome Testing Gets Personal for Some Scientists
In a Duke Chronicle feature story about the IGSP’s Personal Variome Project, Hunt Willard says "some time in the next five to 10 years, people like you will have their genomes done, everyone will."

Experts Urge Industry to Work with Researchers or Risk Federal Action
At a briefing on Capitol Hill, Bob Cook-Deegan and colleague Richard Gold revealed case study results that document for the first time mistakes made in protecting and enforcing patent rights on breast cancer genes in the United States and abroad.

Discovery Yields Possible Blood Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Geoff Ginsburg is a collaborator on a Duke study led by William Kraus that found a handful of genes in circulating blood associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease. Read the original article in the brand new journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics.

Is Bayh-Dole Good for Developing Countries? Lessons from the US Experience
In a PLoS Biology Perspective, Bob Cook-Deegan and colleagues say that, to the extent that legislation governing patenting and licensing of public sector research is needed in developing countries, it should reflect the current context rather than blindly importing a US model that is 30 years old.

Receptor-Like Kinase ACR4 Restricts Formative Cell Divisions in the Arabidopsis Root
In the journal Science, Philip Benfey and colleagues reveal a common mechanism of formative cell division control in the main root tip meristem and during lateral root initiation.

The Medical and Economic Roles of Pipeline Pharmacogenetics: Alzheimer’s Disease as a Model of Efficacy and HLA-B*5701 as a Model of Safety
In the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, IGSP member Allen Roses says that "targeting of medicines during drug development is now possible, practical, and profitable."

Genetic Determinants of Variable Metabolism Have Little Impact on the Clinical Use of Leading Antipsychotics in the CATIE Study
In Genetics in Medicine, David Goldstein and colleagues evaluate systematically in clinical settings whether functional genetic variations in drug metabolizing enzymes influence optimized doses, efficacy, and safety of antipsychotic medications.

Utilization of Pathway Signatures to Reveal Distinct Types of B Lymphoma in the Emicro-myc Model and Human Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
In the journal Cancer Research, Joe Nevins, Anil Potti and colleagues report on studies that they say provide insight into the complexity of the oncogenic process and a novel strategy for dissecting the heterogeneity of B lymphoma.

A Genomic Approach to Identify Molecular Pathways Associated with Chemotherapy Resistance
In the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Phil Febbo, Joe Nevins, Anil Potti and colleagues offer evidence supporting the use of a genomic approach to identify drug-specific targets associated with the development of chemotherapy resistance.

Ashley Chi is the recipient of a grant award from the Roche Foundation for Anemia Research for a project entitled "Genomic Analysis of Erythrocyte microRNA to Dissect the Heterogeneity of Sickle Cell Anemia."

Jun Zhu and Uwe Ohler are recipients of a grant from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled "Genome-wide Exploration of miRNA-Mediated Network Motifs."

Julianne O'Daniel is the recipient of a National Institutes of Health grant for a project entitled "Genome Diner: A Strategy for Community-Researcher Engagement in Genome Sciences."

For full details and the latest updates on IGSP seminars and events, see the Events Calendar

A selection of upcoming events:

Tuesday, November 4th
Genome Biology Meeting
Yoichiro Shibata in the Crawford lab presents.

Wednesday, November 5th
Systems Biology Seminar
Fred Dietrich presents "Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics."

Wednesday, November 5th
Computational Biology Seminar
Bei Wang in the Edelsbrunner group presents “Computing Elevation Maxima by Searching the Guass Sphere.”

Tuesday, November 11th
Tuesday Seminar Series
Julia Zeitlinger from the Stowers Institute will present “Transcriptional Regulatory Networks in the Early Drosophila Embryo.”

Wednesday, November 12th
Genome Academy
Introduction to Sun Grid Engine (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

Thursday, November 13th
Genomic Medicine Forum
Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffit present.

Monday, November 17th
Cancer Genomics Seminar
Xiao-Fan Wang presents.

Wednesday, November 19th
Race, Genetics and Health Seminar
Jay Kaufman presents "Hypertension and Race." RSVP by November 12th.