Genomics & Health Weekly Update

This weekly update provides information about the impact of human genomic research on disease prevention & population health. Learn more about the Genomics & Health Weekly Update.

Thursday, February 4, 2010       Volume 24   Number 5

Spotlight

CDC Announces a New Genomics Funding Opportunity

CDC's Office of Public Health Genomics is announcing a new funding opportunity for the creation of a Genomics Knowledge Synthesis Center. The proposed center, working collaboratively with CDC’s Office of Public Health Genomics (OPHG), will plan and develop systematic evidence reviews on selected genomic applications, topic briefs on genomic applications, and methods to enhance the efficiency and quality of systematic evidence reviews. Read more.

 

---

 

Announcements

• February is American Heart Month. Family medical history offers important information for identifying individual risk of this disease. Learn more.
• Save the date! University of Washington will offer the second Summer Institute in Public Health Genomics on June 14-18, 2010. Information on curriculum and instructors will be added when available. For now, please visit Summer Institute for last year's offerings.
• The American Public Health Association (APHA) Genomics Forum invites abstracts submissions for the 2010 APHA conference on the theme of “Social Justice: Public Health Imperative” as well as areas of special interest to public health practitioners and researchers in the field of genomics. Extended deadline: February 10, 2010.
• The University of Utah’s Genetic Science Learning Center receives the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education for two Web sites: Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics.

Top of Page

---

 

Genomics In The News

• The following are headlines from on-line news articles published during the past week.
• The headlines and lead sentence are exactly as they appear in the popular press & do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of CDC.
• Free registration required for some articles.

Cancer

New gene discovery could help patients with breast cancer, Belfast Telegraph, February 2

Tumor suppressor p53 prevents cancer progression in cells with missegregated chromosomes, Medical News Today, February 2

Scientists discover enzyme that 'cleans' cancer cells, The University of Manchester, February 1

Cancer researchers perform complete genomic sequencing of brain cancer cell line, Science Daily, January 29

Mapping cancer genes to find a cure, CBS News, January 28

Diabetes

Scientists map out regulatory regions of genome, hot spots for diabetes genes, Medical News Today, February 3

Epigenetics

The mapping of the epigenome of human stem cells during development by Scripps Research And GIS scientists, Medical News Today, February 4

Epigenetics could help researchers determine any risks associated with low-dose radiation, EurekAlert, February 1

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI)

The government has your baby's DNA, CNN Health, February 3

ACLU and PUBPAT argue today that patents on breast cancer genes are unconstitutional and invalid, Common Dreams, February 2

Can anyone hold a patent over human genes, CBS News, February 2

Companies may hit new anti-discrimination law when asking workers about health issues, Medical News Today, February 2

Wellness efforts face hurdle, The Wall Street Journal, February 1

Family History

Could a man who died in the 1600s unlock your health secrets, Mail Online, February 2

Genetic Testing

ACLA briefs blues chapter about 'value of genetic testing', Genome Web, February 2 [by free subscription only]

Firm brings gene tests to masses, The News York Times, January 28

Maternal and Child Health

NIH scientists identify maternal and fetal genes that increase preterm birth risk, NIH News, February 4

Possible pharmacological target(s) identified in pediatric OSA, EurekAlert, February 4

Mental Health

Could pill ease genetic brain disorder, CBS News, February 1

Genetic mutations associated with suicide risk among patients with depression, EurekAlert, February 1

Obesity

Some morbidly obese people are missing genes, shows new research, Medical News Today, February 4

Personalized Medicine

The potential of personalized medicine, Life Science Leader, February 1

Other

John Wiley and Sons' 6th edition report on "Genetic disorders and the fetus", News-Medical.Net, February 4

Mechanical forces could affect gene expression, Medical News Today, February 3

Arthritis genes discovered by University Of Queensland scientists, Australia, Medical News Today, February 2

Cell growth regulates genetic circuits, Medical News Today, February 2

Global Genes Project to raise awareness for millions of children living with rare disease, Charlotte Business Journal, February 1

Involvement of rare variants in common disease, PHG Foundation, February 1

NEI to support young genomics data scientists, Genome Web, February 1 [by free subscription only]

What is Paget's disease of bone? What causes Paget's disease, Medical News Today, January 30

The Genetics Society of America announces its 2010 award recipients, EurekAlert, January 28

Genetics Web sites win Science's inaugural SPORE award for online education materials, EurekAlert, January 25

Top of Page

---

 

Genomics in the Scientific Literature

Cancer

Beyond genome-wide association studies: genetic heterogeneity and individual predisposition to cancer
Galvan A, et al.
Trends Genet 2010 Jan

Germline mutations and polymorphisms in the origins of cancers in women
Hirshfield KM, et al.
J Oncol 2010;2010:297671

"I have always believed I was at high risk...” The role of expectation in emotional responses to the receipt of an average, moderate or high cancer genetic risk assessment result: a thematic analysis of free-text questionnaire comments
Hilgart J, et al.
Fam Cancer 2010 Jan

Chronic Disease

An update on the genetics of atopic dermatitis: scratching the surface in 2009
Barnes KC
J Allergy Clin Immunol 2010 Jan;125(1):16-29.e1-11; quiz 30-1

Genetics of gout
Choi HK, et al.
Curr Opin Rheumatol 2010 Mar;22(2):144-51

The genetic causes of male factor infertility: a review
O'Flynn O'Brien KL, et al.
Fertil Steril 2010 Jan;93(1):1-12

Epigenomics

Epigenetics, hippocampal neurogenesis, and neuropsychiatric disorders: unraveling the genome to understand the mind
Hsieh J & Eisch AJ
Neurobiol Dis 2010 Jan

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI)

Genetic testing in the context of the revision of the French law on bioethics
Bonneau D, et al.
Pathol Biol (Paris) 2010 Jan

Family History

Birth Weight, Family History of Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome in Children and  Adolescents
Guerrero-Romero F, et al.
J Pediatr 2010 Jan

Genetic Testing

Outcomes of interest in evidence-based evaluations of genetic tests
Botkin JR, et al.
Genet Med 2010 Jan

The impact of human copy number variation on a new era of genetic testing
Choy KW, et al.
BJOG 2010 Jan

Infectious Disease

HO-1 polymorphism as a genetic determinant behind the malaria resistance afforded by haemolytic disorders
Garcia-Santos D & Chies JA
Med Hypotheses 2010 Jan

Mental Health

Pharmacogenetic considerations in the treatment of psychiatric disorders
Lohoff FW & Ferraro TN
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2010 Feb;11(3):423-39

Neurologic Conditions

Clinical features of LRRK2 parkinsonism
Haugarvoll K & Wszolek ZK
Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2009 Dec;15 Suppl 3:S205-8

Personalized Medicine

The role of genomic oxidative-reductive balance as predictor of complex regional  pain syndrome development: a novel theory
Smith HS
Pain Physician 2010 Jan;13(1):79-90

HuGE

For this week's human genome epidemiology articles, please visit the HuGE Navigator.

Top of Page

 

Send web sites that you would like to see included in a future update to cdcinfo@cdc.gov Sign-up for new Genomics and Health Weekly Updates through GovDelivery. You may return to GovDelivery to edit preferences. The CDC Office of Public Health Genomics makes available the above information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC.  Note that some links may become invalid over time.