When Elisa Schoenfeld, a child development specialist, learned she had tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation, she knew it raised her risk for breast and ovarian cancer. She and her daughter, Amira, who received similar genetic test results, visited the BRCA Ovarian Previvor Clinic at Cedars-Sinai.
The seven funded projects range from an investigation of the potential benefits of virtual reality-based “nature” experiences for hospital patients, to tools that allow scientists to make full use of huge databases of biomedical information.
Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators attending the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting April 5-10 in San Diego are available to comment on scientific advances being presented throughout the conference.
A new study recently published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology uses leading-edge cryo-electron microscopy imaging technology to determine whether differences exist between the protein structures in those with Alzheimer’s disease and those with both Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.
DNA replication—which happens when cells divide—is one of the most important processes in all living organisms. In a landmark finding, published today in Cell, scientists identified a multi-protein “machine” in cells that helps govern the pausing or stopping of DNA replication to ensure its smooth progress.
New research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison decodes the evolutionary pathway of regulatory proteins, the molecules that help control gene expression.The findings from the Raman Lab in the Department of Biochemistry recently published their findings in the journal Cell Systems.
In many ways, Treasure Newton is your typical 17-year-old. She loves hanging out with her friends and family, trying new recipes and doing her makeup. But unlike most teens, she knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up.
Persons with a higher genetic risk of obesity need to work out harder than those of moderate or low genetic risk to avoid becoming obese, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) paper published in JAMA Network Open.
A research study recently published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology explains the role of pancreatic enzyme therapy (PERT) in reducing the frequency of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children suffering from acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP).
National Eye Institute researchers studying human retinas discovered 87 target genes where a mix of environmental factors likely influence one’s risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in people ages 65 and older.
While CRISPR has shown immense promise as a next-generation therapeutic tool, the gene editing technology’s edits are still imperfect. Researchers have developed a new system to test and analyze CRISPR-based DNA repair and related risks from unintended but harmful “bystander” edits.
Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most celebrated musicians in human history, has a rather low genetic predisposition for beat synchronization, according to a Current Biology study co-authored by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Max Planck Institutes for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
A study is the first to evaluate substrate recolonization by sponges in the U.S. Virgin Islands after two catastrophic storms using genetic analyses to understand how much clonality verses sexual recruitment occurs on coral reefs post-storms.
Nucleus Genomics, the next-generation genetic testing and analysis company, today announced the launch of its DNA analysis product to bring the benefits of personalized medicine to everyone.
Irvine, Calif., March 21, 2024 – A new study led by the University of California, Irvine has revealed a potential shift in our basic knowledge of the origins of birth defects, which affect about 3 percent of babies born in the United States each year.
Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) capable of working within human cells could power advanced gene therapies, including those addressing some cancers, along with many laboratory applications, though serious technical obstacles have hindered their development.
Using novel genetic and genomic tools, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have shed light on the role of immune cells called macrophages in lipid-rich tissues like the brain, advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.
Investigators at Cedars-Sinai have identified risk factors that make inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients susceptible to developing serious conditions in other parts of their bodies.
The blue whale genome was published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, and the Etruscan shrew genome was published in the journal Scientific Data.
Yale Cancer Center (YCC) and Smilow Cancer Hospital physicians and scientists will share new data for breakthrough and emerging cancer treatments as well as new discoveries in obesity, tobacco, evolution, and early onset cancers in early April at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.
Researchers identified several differences in DNA methylation in people who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy, according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University.
A new population study led by researcher Tomas Paus , professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of Montreal and researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine, highlights the respective roles of maternal and fetal genes in the growth of the baby's cerebral cortex .
An Iowa State University research team built a shortened form of the gene that causes a deadly childhood disease, which will make searching for potential treatments quicker and more effective. It’s the first-ever super minigene, a concept that could be used to make easier-to-study versions of genes linked to other illnesses.
Repeats of DNA sequences, often referred to as “junk DNA” or “dark matter,” that are found in chromosomes and could contribute to cancer or other diseases have been challenging to identify and characterize. Now, investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a novel approach that uses machine learning to identify these elements in cancerous tissue, as well as in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) — fragments that are shed from tumors and float in the bloodstream. This new method could provide a noninvasive means of detecting cancers or monitoring response to therapy. Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence that uses data and computer algorithms to perform complex tasks and accelerate research.
As a new assistant professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty, Sun seeks to better understand the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of cancers, using genome editing technologies, animal and patient-derived models, and other tools to develop more effective cancer therapies.
Renowned clinical geneticist Bruce Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, has been named the recipient of the 2024 ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine's David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Genetics.
Scientists have identified a new target in ovarian cancer that is particularly vulnerable to chemotherapy. The discovery will allow researchers to better predict how this cancer will behave, particularly the most common and lethal, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women.
Leo Mascarenhas, MD, MS, has an important message for parents whose children have been diagnosed with sarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in the bones or soft tissues.
The researchers carried out a hybridization experiment between female koi carp and male Chinese rare minnow, eventually obtaining allodiploid and allotriploid hybrid offspring. They made a systemic comparison between them and found that the triploid hybrids showed faster growth, higher expression of growth-promoting genes and lower expression of growth-inhibiting genes than the diploid hybrids. This study provides implications to explain the faster growth of polyploid fish.
The Portman lab at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester discovered that the male roundworms use pheromones and touch signals to determine the sex, age, nutritional health, and mating history of the hermaphrodites and show preference toward worms that have not previously mated with another male and are nutritionally healthy.
Below are summaries of recent Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center research findings and other news. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, contact our media team to set up interviews.
Fragile X syndrome is one of the most commonly inherited forms of autism and intellectual disability, and no treatment currently exists. But a team of University of Illinois researchers has discovered a novel receptor function that may be used in a therapeutic approach to treatment.
Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston is now offering genoME®, a community health research program that, through genetic testing, can help a person determine how their genetic profile could impact their future health.
Over the past decade, the advent of new medications has been a game changer for many children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). But while these therapies can significantly enhance lung function, they are not a cure—and not all patients are eligible for them. At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Cystic Fibrosis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of all children with CF.
A team of Iowa State University researchers developed protocols for growing organoids that mimic a turtle liver, the first organoids developed for a turtle and only the second for any reptile. The discovery will aid deeper study of turtle genetics, including the cause of traits with potential medical applications for humans such as the ability to survive weeks without oxygen.
Recent NCCN Guidelines updates—along with the supporting evidence—will be presented during the NCCN 2024 Annual Conference held in Orlando, Florida April 5-7, and simultaneously online. Visit NCCN.org/conference to learn more and register.
Researchers describe a newly-observed role for the protein Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) in regulating DNA repair during cellular division, where errors can become the origin of cancerous tumor growth.
In a paper in the prestigious journal Science to appear on Feb. 29, 2024, a multi-institutional team led by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and University of California at Berkeley found parts of the genome, both within genes and outside of them, that evolved and are associated with vocal learning across mammals. These elements have been linked to autism in humans.
For more than a decade, invasive Asian honeybees have defied evolutionary expectations and established a thriving population in North Queensland, much to the annoyance of the honey industry and biosecurity officials.
A survey of more than 60 families living with Noonan Syndrome has highlighted the need for more social support and medical awareness.
Noonan Syndrome, though classed as a ‘rare’ genetic condition, is estimated to affect between 1 in 2000 to 1 in 2500 births in the UK, causing diverse health issues.
The findings of the collaborative study between Loughborough University and the Noonan Association Syndrome are being shared as part of a month-long awareness campaign.
One of the key survey findings is that there is a lack of awareness of the rare genetic condition – even among medical professionals, which can lead to difficulties in accessing care.
Another theme that emerged is that the social and emotional impacts of living with Noonan Syndrome are overlooked for individuals and carers.
The researchers and charity are now calling for greater awareness, research, and support systems.
Individuals and families – including Ian Legg, the Fay family, and Andrea Reid-Kelly – are sharing t
Harvard Medical School scientists develop new CRISPR-based tool to study the immune function of genes.
New gene-editing approach could optimize how scientists study the immune system’s role in cancer and other immune-mediated diseases.
Researchers from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center show for the first time that a gene usually linked to giant axonal neuropathy, a rare and severe neurological condition, also plays a role in inhibiting aggressive tumor cell growth in head and neck cancers.
Finding treatments for children with rare diseases has been a significant hurdle in the medical world. An unexpected source, the common fruit fly, is turning up answers.
Cancers begin with abnormal changes in individual cells, and the ability to track the accumulation of mutations at the single-cell level can shed new light on the early stages of the disease
Supported by a $2 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Auerbach Lab at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology will examine how different genes associated with autism spectrum disorders may similarly impact our brain’s neurons, resulting in heightened sensitivity to sounds.