News & Events

Events:

New Course Available

            Models & Technologies for Defining Phenotype
            July 21 - 29, 2007

Genomics seminars
Thursdays, 4:00PM, in Commons conference room 2/3

News:

9/26/06

Dr. Jianfang Xu was among six researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine who were recognized during the 10th annual Research Awards Day on Sept. 26. He received a Mid-Career Investigator in Clinical Sciences award. 

8/23/06

New Diabetes Center Created At Wake Forest

In the face of rapidly increasing numbers of adults and children with diabetes, Wake Forest University School of Medicine has created a new diabetes research center to expand already extensive research on the disease through the development of programs that integrate basic and clinical research.

Donald W. Bowden, Ph.D., has been named director of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Diabetes Center by William B. Applegate, M.D., M.P.H., senior vice president of Wake Forest University Health Sciences and dean of the medical school.

“The Diabetes Center will be a multidisciplinary research and education center that will collaborate with a large variety of programs and centers,” said Applegate, who said that Bowden would report directly to him.

The dean said that investments totaling more than $3 million by the departments of Internal Medicine and Biochemistry, as well as school funds, had made the center possible.

Bowden, professor of biochemistry and internal medicine (endocrinology/metabolism), said, “Establishment of the center is a reflection of the important role that diabetes research plays at the Medical Center, and the enormous impact that diabetes is having on public health in our country.”

Goal of Asthma Studies is to Find More Effective Treatments

3/20/06 

“The long-term goal is to develop new ways to evaluate a patient’s asthma to allow us to design individualized therapy for that patient based on the type of inflammation in their lungs or the genes they have. We are a long way from being there, but this research is a start.” – Wendy Moore, MD

Full Article on JACI (subscription required)

Researchers Find Genetic Link Between Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Metabolic Syndrome   12/12/05  “The results suggest that genes associated with the tendency for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, are inherited as a single trait. The genes are at different locations on the chromosomes, which suggests that someone who has more than one of the genes may be more likely to have these diseases.”-----Dr. Don Bowden Official press release
Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN) 5/6/05The research will likely lead to genetic tests to determine whether a specific patient is likely to benefit from, or should avoid some asthma medications,”----Dr. Stephen P. Peters Official press release
Gene For Diabetes Found. 10/29/04 "We studied nearly 2000 individuals, and found that the PTPN1 gene (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase N1) on the human chromosome 20 is associated with type 2 diabetes". --Dr Don Bowden
"The best guess right now is it contributes to about 20 percent of diabetes in Caucasian Americans.” --Dr Josyf C. Mychaleckyj
Official press release Pubmed abstract for case-control in October 2004 Diabetes Pubmed abstract for family study in October 2004 Diabetes

Two prostate studies appear in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

08/18/04

 "In the largest ever genome wide screen, we found multiple pieces of evidence to suggest the presence of a prostate cancer gene, or genes, on chromosome 17". --Dr Jianfeng Xu

In a separate study of the MIC-1 gene published in the same issue of JNCI, "We found that genetic variation in the inflammatory process contributes to prostate cancer susceptibility" --Dr Jianfeng Xu

Official press release for both studies
Genome wide screen abstract, August 2004 in JNCI
G.W.S. Full article on JNCI site (subscription required)
MIC-1 abstract, August 2004 in JNCI
MIC-1 Full article on JNCI site (subscription required)

Genomics Center is One of Eight ACRN Centers in Country Chosen to Conduct Asthma Studies 05/11/04

"One of the studies may look at people with certain genes who have to be careful with asthma medications because certain doses can be harmful." --Dr Stephen Peters

Official press release (PDF)

Sequence variants of toll-like receptor 4 are associated with prostate cancer risk 04/15/04

"Our finding supports a role for a bacteria-associated response pathway, possibly acting via inflammation, in the development of prostate cancer."--Dr. Jianfeng Xu

Pubmed abstract of April 2004 article in the Cancer Research

PDF Reprint of Article on CR site (subscription required)

CYP1B1 gene associated with prostate cancer 10/20/03

“Our study suggests that the genetic make-up of some men leaves them more susceptible to potential carcinogens in the environment or hormones in the body that could trigger the disease.” --Dr. Jianfeng Xu

Press release

Pubmed abstract of October 2003 article in the British Journal Cancer

PDF Reprint of Article on BrJC site (subscription required)

Genetics a Factor in PSA Levels 07/15/2003

Press release

Pubmed abstract of July 2003 article in JNCI (Journal of the National Cancer Institute)

PDF Reprint of Article on JNCI site (subscription required)

Discovery of MSRI as a prostate cancer gene 09/15/2002

Link to Press release for Nature Genetics article

Abstract of Nature Genetics article

Gene Enhances Effects of Estrogen on Good Cholesterol Reports Researcher from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center 04/02/2002

[link to press release]
[link to PUBMED abstract]
[link to supplemental data]

Gene-Gene interaction increases susceptibility to asthma: IL4Ra and IL13 polymorphisms in an asthmatic Dutch population. 10/23/2001

Article in Academic Press "inScight"
Scientific abstract from 2001 ASHG Meeting

Wake Forest Medical School Hires Genomics Faculty Members 06/29/2000

Click here for full article with sound