Current Applied Genomics Research
Our Center is involved in a large number of research projects. A small sample of them follows.
Can Breastfeeding Affect Risk Factors for Diabetes?
You may have heard that breastfeeding is better for your baby than formula feeding and in fact, studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of obesity in childhood — and that the duration of breastfeeding directly relates to a decreased risk of developing obesity in childhood. In a new study, we are examining and comparing diabetic and cardiovascular risk factors in children were breast-fed and children were formula-fed. This study looks at a group of children 10 years after they first took part in a study, so that we can gauge the long-term effects of breastfeeding vs. formula.
Understanding Birth Defects of the Heart
Working with the director of the 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Cardiac Center, we’re studying the molecular genetics of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital (present from birth) heart defect in which the left ventricle of the heart is severely underdeveloped. Congenital heart malformations are the most common birth defect, and are the leading cause of infant mortality within the first year of life. We have screened DNA samples from patients with congenital heart defects, and have found a cluster of variations within specific genes which may lead to a better understanding of how we can diagnose and treat these conditions.
Help for Disorders Affecting Nerves
In a novel therapeutic study, 91ÖÆƬ³§ÔÚÏß¿´ Children's researchers are testing morpholino oligos (molecules used to modify the effect of genes) with children exhibiting Pelizaeus Merzbacher disease (PMD). What we learn will also have broad implications for other diseases that affect nerve cells’ ability to conduct signals, such as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Looking at Fetal Development
We’re seeking to identify mechanisms of normal male reproductive maturation and understand how these mechanisms are disrupted in instances of abnormal development causing birth defects such as hypospadias (in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis) and cryptorchidism (the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum). One factor we’re looking at is how a common PVC plastic called phthalate (which many people might ingest small particles of) may induce endocrine disruption and development. We’re also working to identify the genetic factors and modifiers of Costello syndrome (CS), a disorder that can have profound effects on many parts of a child’s body, including a predisposition for malignant tumors.
Searching for Ways to Re-grow Brain and Nerve Cells
Our researchers are looking for new ways to promote the growth of healthy cells in the brain and spinal cord of children with disorders affecting their central nervous systems (CNS). Each year, it’s estimated that more than 2 million people in the United States alone sustain traumatic brain injuries and approximately 12,000 new cases are annually added to an estimated 400,000 patients with spinal cord injuries.
