NEW YORK, April 17 - The Translational Genomics Research Institute and a number of US-based universities yesterday met with Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine in an attempt to create a "cooperative research initiative"
The meeting, which was held at TGen's offices in Phoenix, focused on outlining both institutes' goals and programs, the groups said. Additional meetings will likely develop specific cooperative projects, especially research aimed at diabetes and cancer.
"By sharing expertise, we hope to make significant strides in addressing a number health issues faced by both countries while recognizing that from a genomic medicine standpoint, both populations are unique," TGen President Jeffrey Trent said in a statement.
Gerardo Jiménez-Sánchez, director of INMEGEN, wrote in this month's Science that "genomic medicine in Mexico needs to be based on the genetic structure and health demands of the Mexican population, rather than importing applications developed for other populations." INMEGEN is being set up in Cuernavaca.
Also at the meeting were representatives from the Mayo Clinic, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona.