HIHG Centers : Genomic Medicine
Genomic Medicine
Jeffery M. Vance, M.D., Ph.D. Director of the Center for Genomic Medicine, John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics
The Center for Genomic Medicine at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics consists of four integrated Divisions — Family and Patient Ascertainment, Translational Genomics, Pharmacogenetics, and Clinical Informatics. The Center is led by Jeffery M. Vance, M.D., Ph.D., whose research has focused on the application of clinical, molecular, and mathematical genetic techniques to identify genes leading to human disease. The Center is the locus for all translational genomics work and also houses the Biorepository, one of the major core areas serving the HIHG and the University of Miami. It stores biological samples ranging from blood to tissue as well as extracted DNA from samples for all HIHG research studies, and many of those within the university’s larger medical complex.
The Center’s four integrated divisions consist of some of the best minds in the field of genetics research. They also are deeply involved in the development and education of the next generation of researchers involved in the many facets of determining the genetic basis for, and treatment of, complex diseases.
The divisions in detail:
Patient and Family Ascertainment
Division Director: Michael Cuccaro, Ph.D.
MCuccaro@med.miami.edu
The mission of the Patient and Family Ascertainment Division is to create, implement, and evaluate ascertainment methods used by investigators in the HIHG and the larger UM community involved in the study of complex diseases. The Division defines and implements comprehensive clinical protocols used for recruiting, enrolling, and ascertaining research participants and families. It is is responsible for ensuring that all ascertainment personnel employed through specific projects are trained in clinical protocols and certified as necessary according to UM standards/policies.
Pharmacogenetics
Pharmacogenetics is a rapidly growing area describing the interaction of pharmaceuticals and gene variants in treating a wide variety of conditions and diseases. The failure to understand the interaction of many drugs in some individual patients is believed to be one of the primary reasons for lack of effectiveness in treatment. This division is involved in research identifying drugs and facilitating their translation into clinical usage. It is also involved in establishing a repository of Pharmacogenetic Information for the Department of Human Genetics (DHG) internal clinical website, and providing a resource for the various departments to explore potential pharmacogenetic trials and tests.
Division of Clinical and Translational Genetics
Division Director: Olaf A. Bodamer, M.D., Ph.D.
OBodamer@med.miami.edu
One of the primary tasks of this division will be to bring the advances of genetics into the practice of medicine. As this is essentially a new discipline of medicine – call it Genomic Medicine – the HIHG has established three major subdivisions to perform all the required functions of this section:
Clinical Informatics
Division Director: David Seo, M.D.
DSeo@med.miami.edu
Application of genomics into medicine is dependent upon informatics. The advances in genetic research over the last decade have created a huge demand for storage and the computational capabilities to interpret the mass of data being continually discovered and recorded. This is occurring at every level of research as well as in health care records. Proper integration of the electronic medical records of patients with the relevant genomic database is the key to the success of Genomic Medicine. The Division of Clinical Informatics at the HIHG is responsible for developing the proper interface and filters for successful integration of the electronic medical record keeping database of patients with the genomic database system. This integration will assist practicing physicians to interpret the genomic data of the patients for proper application in the field of genomic medicine.