International Stem Cell Registry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, University of Maryland at College Park Dingman Center, Capital Access Network, Biotechnology Industry Organization’ 2008 International Conven

September 15, 2008

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In this issue of BioRegion News

Video Spotlight

A Conversation with Geisinger Health System's David Ledbetter

BioArray News editor Justin Petrone caught up with David Ledbetter, CSO of Geisinger Health System, at the recent Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting held in Charlotte, NC, to discuss the future of CMA as a first-tier test, classifying findings of uncertain significance, and more.

May 25, 2012

A Conversation with the American Museum of Natural History's George Amato

The American Museum of Natural History's George Amato, director of the museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, discusses conservation and "landscape" genetics, his PLoS One paper on the use of DNA barcoding to detect illegal bushmeat in New York-area airports, and more.

May 22, 2012

Shashikant Kulkarni at ACMG

BioArray News editor Justin Petrone sat down with Shashikant Kulkarni, an associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, to discuss chromosomal microarrary analysis in the clinic, SNP arrays versus CGH platforms for post-natal testing, and more.

May 16, 2012

Miragen Therapeutics' Eva van Rooij

Miragen Therapeutics' Eva van Rooij discusses microRNA-based therapeutics, the challenges associated with chronic microRNA knockdown, therapeutic microRNA antagonists, and more.

May 08, 2012
Young Investigator Profile

Vincent Fusaro

Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellow

Informatics and PGx

Vincent Fusaro is using a Pathways to Independence grant from the National Library of Medicine to develop informatics methods for identifying new uses for existing drugs as well as confirming their benefit using electronic medical records from health-care providers.
Blog

Unmask the Unknown

Rosetta Genomics discusses a new assay to determine the starting point for cancers of unknown primary origin.

May 29, 2012

This Week in Modern Pathology

In Modern Pathology this week: flow cytometry as a tool to diagnose peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and more.

May 29, 2012

The Far Journey

The Washington Examiner speaks with NHGRI's Eric Green.

May 29, 2012

Put into Perspective

Data from consumer genetic profiling firms must be considered in the proper context, a PCMag editor says.

May 29, 2012
Papers of Note

Connection Between Epigenome, Selective Mutability, Evolution, and Human Disease
Li, Harris et al., PLoS Genetics
Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine and elsewhere propose a "connection between the epigenome, selective mutability, evolution, and human disease" based on the findings of their study on associations of structural mutability with germline DNA methylation and with non-allelic homologous recombination mediated by low-copy repeats. "Combined evidence from four human sperm methylome maps, human genome evolution, structural polymorphisms in the human population, and previous genomic and disease studies consistently points to a strong association of germline hypomethylation and genomic instability," the Baylor-led team writes.

Genetic Data for Modern Genetic Breeds 'Have Yet to Shed Light on Dog Origins'
Larson, Karlsson et al., PNAS
A team led by researchers at the University of Durham investigate the value of modern genetic data to elucidate the origins of dog domestication by analyzing 49,024 autosomal SNPs in 19 wolves and 1,375 dogs, representing 35 breeds. The team reports having uncovered conflicting evidence when correlating the earliest archeological dogs with the geographic locations of 14 breeds thought to be ancient. "These genetically distinct ancient breeds only appear so because of their relative isolation, suggesting that studies of modern breeds have yet to shed light on dog origins," the authors write.
People on the Move

IntegenX has appointed David Smith to serve as its new COO. Smith most recently served as CFO of Thoratec, and previous to that was CFO at Chiron. He currently is chair of the audit committee and a director of OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals and previously was chair of the audit committee and a director of Perlegen Sciences.

Vermillion said this week that President and CEO Gail Page will be leaving the company by September and the firm has begun the process to find her successor. Page also has resigned her seat on the board of directors, and effective immediately Vermillion amended its bylaws to eliminate the vacant seat, reducing its board from seven to six members.

Genomic Health has appointed Richard Tompane as president of its new subsidiary InVitae, which will focus on developing next-generation-based sequencing diagnostics for genetic diseases. Tompane was previously president and CEO of Gemfire and has also served as an independent consultant.
Upcoming Events

Conferences, Meetings & Deadlines

European Lab Automation 2012
May 30-31 / Hamburg
Select Biosciences

Why We Can't Wait: Conference to Eliminate Health Disparities in Genomic Medicine
May 31-Jun 1 / Miami
Genetics Awareness Project

Genomics in Maternal Child Health
Jun 1 / Bethesda, Md.
NHGRI

ASCO 2012 Annual Meeting
Jun 1-5 / Chicago
ASCO

WCSB2012: 9th International Workshop on Computational Systems Biology
Jun 4-6 / Ulm, Germany
Ulm University and Tampere University of Technology

Abstract & Registration Deadlines

more

Science
A pair of studies, one published in Nature and one published in Nature Genetics, detail the efforts of researchers who used exome sequencing to look into the mutational profiles and pathways that can contribute to prostate cancer. The first group found nine genes with recurrent somatic mutations, six of which had previously been implicated in the disease. The second group demonstrated that recurrent mutations in the ubiquitin ligase-coding gene called SPOP define a non-ETS gene fusion containing prostate cancer subtype.
Business
Based on expectations of mid-single digit organic revenue growth annually, Thermo Fisher Scientific's revenues for 2016 could fall between $14.5 billion and $15.5 billion, the firm said in a presentation at its analyst meeting. The firm also said that it plans to ramp up its presence in Asia-Pacific and the emerging markets. Last year, about 19 percent of its business came from the APAC and emerging markets. By 2016, it has a goal of increasing that figure to 25 percent with a strategy that seeks to replicate a "successful China/India formula."
Funding
The UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council will invest £19 million ($29.8 million) in the Genome Analysis Center at the Norwich Research Park in the UK as part of a broader, five-year £250 million ($392 million) investment in the biosciences. As part of the larger investment, the Roslin Institute in Scotland will receive £23 million to further its livestock animal genomics research, the Babraham Institute in Cambridge will get £37 million, and the John Innes Centre will receive £42 million.
Genome Technology Magazine
In DNA USA: A Genetic Biography of America, University of Oxford geneticist and author Bryan Sykes seeks determine what makes an American, and what makes one American different from another. To do so, he turns to Americans' DNA, tracing it back to their ancestral homelands and examining how Americans' different origins affect how they perceive themselves. As a review in this month's GT says, "DNA USA is a marvelous book — thoroughly researched, engagingly written, and, most importantly, interesting."

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International Stem Cell Registry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, University of Maryland at College Park Dingman Center, Capital Access Network, Biotechnology Industry Organization’ 2008 International Conven

In this issue of BioRegion News

Video Spotlight

Young Investigator Profile

Blog

Papers of Note

People on the Move

Upcoming Events

Science

Business

Funding

Genome Technology Magazine

TechGuides Listings

Poll