November 2010

The IGSP presented one of several Duke exhibits featured at the two-day inaugural USA Science and Engineering Expo in Washington, D.C. on October 23 and 24. The IGSP exhibit, organized by Tomalei Vess and IGSP students, introduced visitors to their genetic traits, such as a hitchhiker's thumb, dimples or freckles, and allowed them to compare their genes to those of other event-goers with the help of colored beads.

In all, forty university students, faculty and staff showcased Duke research in booths located on Freedom Plaza, near the Washington Monument. Vess estimates that at least 800 people took part in the hands-on genetics lesson.

Don't forget that the IGSP will host its Second Annual "IGSP Research At a Glance" this Wednesday, November 3rd, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm in Schiciano Auditorium Side B. The event will feature IGSP faculty, postdocs and students as they present their current research projects in 90 seconds or less. That event will be followed by an "All-IGSP Community Social" on November 10th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Fitzpatrick Atrium. Food and drinks will be provided.

Million-Dollar Prize for Moffitt and Caspi
ScienceInsider reports that work by Avshalom Caspi and Terrie Moffitt has shed light on the interplay between genes and environment in determining proclivity to violence and led to programs to improve the social and living environment of children, especially in poor neighborhoods. For their efforts, Caspi and Moffitt were awarded the $1 million Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize. A video of Caspi and Moffitt is available here.

From the Bottom Up
Genome Technology features Laura Beskow's ongoing NIH-funded effort to investigate the ethical issues raised by recruting study participants based on their genetic information using surveys of institutional review board members, study coordinators and participants.

Who Owns Your Genes? In Many Cases Not You
In an MSNBC Self Magazine report, Bob Cook-Deegan says there are "no consistent data showing that gene-patent monopolies affect test quality." His issue with Myriad and its patents on genes linked to breast cancer is its restrictiveness.

Searching For Cellular Switches
R&D Magazine features a story written by Duke News about Nick Buchler and his research into the principles of physics and biology happening within the cell.

SACGHS Wraps Up With Recommendations on Sequencing, Comparative Effectiveness
At the final SACGHS meeting, Charmaine Royal led a committee that drafted recommendations for sharing genomic data for research when the participants are from specific groups, particularly ethnic and indigenous groups, GenomeWeb reports.

Break Up of Genetics Advisory Panel Seen as Premature
In reference to the SACGHS panel break up, Hunt Willard says, "The risk here is that people will misinterpret what it means as sort of a turning of the administration’s back on the issues, and I personally don’t interpret it that way."

Tweaking Technology Transfer
In Inside Higher Ed, Arti Rai comments on a report by the National Research Council on the system by which American universities make the fruits of federally funded research available to the public.

New Clues to Treating Ovarian Cancer Relapse
In a U.S. News HealthDay report, Andrew Berchuk says that the results of the first randomized trial to look at the timing of chemo in women with recurring ovarian cancer lends "confidence that we're not compromising anybody's treatment [if we delay chemotherapy]." Berchuk was also featured in a WRAL report in efforts to develop better risk models, including genetic clues, to identify women at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer.

Transcriptional Silencing Functions of the Yeast Protein Orc1/Sir3 Subfunctionalized After Gene Duplication
In The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Laura Rusche and Meleah Hickman report evidence suggesting that two related yeast proteins, Orc1 and Sir3, may have an ancient history of cooperating to generate chromatin structures.

Childhood Trauma and Children's Emerging Psychotic Symptoms: A Genetically Sensitive Longitudinal Cohort Study
In the American Journal of Psychiatry, Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi conclude that trauma characterized by intention to harm is associated with children's reports of psychotic symptoms.

Cancer Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacoepidemiology: Setting a Research Agenda to Accelerate Translation
Geoff Ginsburg is an author of a report in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute that details recommendations for research priorities, resources and infrastructure needed to advance the application of pharmacogenomics to cancer treatment.

Researcher Practices on Returning Genetic Research Results
In Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, Susanne Haga and colleagues say that the "substantial number of researchers who did not consider returning research results suggests that researchers and IRBs need to devote more attention to a topic about which participants are interested in."

Understanding FDA Regulation of DTC Genetic Tests Within the Context of Administrative Law
In The American Journal of Human Genetics, Jennifer Wagner writes, "It is important for all of us to be engaged in the debate over the appropriate means to regulate genetic tests, but we must recognize that passing a rule, regulation, or bill is merely one down in the series."

Developing a Simplified Consent Form for Biobanking
Laura Beskow and colleagues report in PLoS One preliminary findings that a 2-page consent form for biobanking contains the information that most prospective participants identify as important. They suggest that simpified forms with supplemental material for those who desire added information may allow "the most substantively material information to be better highlighted and [enable] potential participants to read the form and ask questions more effectively."

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

A selection of upcoming events:

Monday, November 1st
Cancer Genomics Seminar
Neal Ready will present "Biomarker Development in Thoracic Oncology: Histology, Gene Mutations, and Beyond."

Monday, November 1st
Computational Biology Seminar
Ryan Lilien of the University of Toronto will present "A Bayesian Method for Macromolecular Strucutral Inference and an Othogonal Pet Project."

Tuesday, November 2nd
Tuesday Seminar Series
John Carlson from Yale will present "Chemosensory Perception in Insects."

Wednesday, November 3rd
IGSP Research-At-A-Glance
IGSP Faculty, postdocs and students will present 90-second synopses of current research projects.

Thursday, November 4th
Genomic and Personalized Medicine Forum
Lauren Dame will present "The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act: What Does It Mean for Patients and Researchers?"

Thursday, November 4th
UPGG Distinguished Lecture
Ursula Goodenough will present a Distinguished Lecture entitled "Molecular Genetics of Sexuality in Chlamydomonas."

Tuesday, November 9th
Genome Biology Seminar
Jeff Wong, from Lingchong You's lab, will present.

Wednesday, November 10th
Systems Biology Seminar
Paul Magwene will present.

Wednesday, November 10th
IGSP Community Event
An all-IGSP social event in the Fitzpatrick Atrium.

The NIH is accepting applications for their Director's Early Independence Awards from exceptional junior scientists who have already established a record of innovation and research productivity and are ready to launch an independent research program.