The Genomic Medicine Institute (GMI) serves as the expert base for the principles and practice of genomic medicine as a single platform for scholarly activity (research), academic clinical care and outreach and education ultimately directed at genomics-based personalized healthcare. Thus, GMI research will focus on translational and clinical human genetics and genomics (also to include epigenomics and proteomics) which would be eminently applicable to the routine clinical arena. GMI is helping to coordinate genomics research across many disciplines such that inter-disciplinary research and healthcare are being enhanced.
GMI is a nascent institute directed by Charis Eng, MD, PhD, and is housed in the new Center for Genomics Research Building’s fifth floor, which has been specifically designed to enhance translational genomic medicine. Open design laboratory space is in proximity to the GMI’s clinical component, the Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare, as well as to its Genomic Medicine Biorepository and the Genomics Core Facility. A unique training program that will prepare the next generation to be facile in the investigation related to and evidence-based practice of cancer genomic medicine has been initiated.
The Genomic Medicine Institute is collaborating with Case Western Reserve University, the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and other geographically dispersed institutions to combat the spread of malaria. Genetic sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite, conducted by David Serre’s lab, sheds light on its mechanism of infecting humans. This research may prove critical for heading off the rapid spread of anadapted form of malaria throughout Africa.
Many thanks to Dawn Caraballo, captain of GMI’s team that participated in the American Heart Association 2013 Cleveland Heart Walk. That’s her, fourth from the left. Read more…
The Genomic Medicine Institute hosted a genetics education symposium, “Genetics and Genomics: Roadmap for Clinical Practice,” at the InterContinental Hotel in Cleveland. Read more...
Angela Ting, PhD Awarded Grant to Study Epigenetic Mechanisms in Colon CancerAngela Ting, PhD, Assistant Staff in the Genomic Medicine Institute, has been awarded a grant from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research, entitled “Functional Delineation of Abnormal 3’ DNA Methylation in Colon Cancer,” will improve our mechanistic understanding of colon cancer development and progression. Read more...
Ting Laboratory, from left: Angela Ting, PhD, Nagarajavel Vivekananthan, PhD, and Thomas Sweet, PhD
Research connecting autism with the PTEN genetic mutation was recently featured in the New York Times Health section. “Autism’s Unexpected Link to Cancer Gene,” published on August 11th, highlighted recent research conducted by Charis Eng, MD, PhD, Chair of the Genomic Medicine Institute, in collaboration with Thomas Frazier, MD, Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Autism. Read the full story. (New York Times subscription required.)
Many people with Cowden Syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba Syndrome, and a few other genetic conditions have been found to have PTEN gene mutations as the cause of their medical concerns.
The reseearch team led by Charis Eng, MD, PhD, developed a semi-quantitative score—the Cleveland Clinic (CC) score—that relates the prevalence of clinically observed symptoms in adults to the probability of harboring a PTEN mutation.
Byron Lee, MD, PhD, who completed his research year as part of the Urology residency program in the Genomic Medicine Institute under the mentorship of Angela Ting, PhD, won a second place Lower Memorial Award in basic science for a paper published in Cancer Research.