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Ewan Birney

The Global Alliance for Genomics in Health has appointed Ewan Birney to lead its efforts to accelerate medical and research advancements through the responsible sharing of genomic and clinical data. He will assume the new role on Nov. 1. Birney currently serves as director of the European Bioinformatics Institute and as non-executive director of Genomics England. He is also a consultant and advisor to a number of companies, including Oxford Nanopore Technologies and GlaxoSmithKline. Birney was elected a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2015, and has worked in the laboratories of leading scientists Adrian Krainer, Toby Gibson, and Iain Campbell.

The Scan

Machine Learning Helps ID Molecular Mechanisms of Pancreatic Islet Beta Cell Subtypes in Type 2 Diabetes

The approach helps overcome limitations of previous studies that had investigated the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic islet beta cells, the authors write in their Nature Genetics paper.

Culture-Based Methods, Shotgun Sequencing Reveal Transmission of Bifidobacterium Strains From Mothers to Infants

In a Nature Communications study, culture-based approaches along with shotgun sequencing give a better picture of the microbial strains transmitted from mothers to infants.

Microbial Communities Can Help Trees Adapt to Changing Climates

Tree seedlings that were inoculated with microbes from dry, warm, or cold sites could better survive drought, heat, and cold stress, according to a study in Science.

A Combination of Genetics and Environment Causes Cleft Lip

In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers investigate what combination of genetic and environmental factors come into play to cause cleft lip/palate.