Human Medical Genomics
The completion of the Human Genome Sequencing Project was
promised to start a revolution in human medicine.
Researchers at the Foundation recognize that this
revolution will come, but only if answers to "Why?"
questions are placed upon the molecular structures that
the human genome project generated.
These answers will come through a historical analysis
of genomes. Similarities and differences between genomes
from different vertebrates identify where and how
molecular structure has changed to support new function,
or to conserve ancient function in a changing
environment.
Evolutionary analyses help address some of the most
important questions when developing diagnostics and
therapeutics. What proteins should be targeted? What
animal models should be used to develop a human medicine?
What are the likely side effects of a drug? How will
different patients react differently to a treatment?
Sulfotransferases
The human body uses many enzymes to excrete foreign
compounds, both toxins and pharmaceuticals. Scientists
working at the Foundation have used an evolutionary
analysis of one class of these, sulfotransferases, to
better understand the differences between humans and our
nearest primate relatives.
Leptin and obesity
Obesity and its consequent diseases, including
diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, is
today an epidemic. The Foundation is working to understand
some of the molecules that influence obesity, and how
animal models should be be designed to help develop
treatments to manage the disease.
Natural history of prostate cancer
Fossils suggest that the prostate arose in mammals
ca. 120 million years ago. A set of genes arose in our
ancestors at approximately the same time. Scientists at
the Foundation are working to exploit this connection to
improve the management of prostate cancer.
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is the tragic consequence of mutation
in the human germ line, and similar mutations create a
variety of human disease. The Foundation has used an
evolutionary analysis of these mutations to better understand
deleterious polymorphisms in the human population.
