Results for Gene Discovery

As director of Clinical Laboratories, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at the Center for Applied Genomics, Dr. Santani oversees the clinical genomics program for the diagnosis of common and rare genetic disorders.

Dr. Bhoj's genetics research aims to discover new human disease genes, their mechanisms, and potential targeted therapies. In addition to ongoing gene discovery efforts, Dr. Bhoj focuses on three novel genes that lead to pediatric neurologic dysfunction: TBC1 domain-containing kinase, Histone 3.3 (H3F3A and H3F3B), and MAP4K4.

Dr. Ortiz-Gonzalez is a physician-scientist specializing in pediatric neurogenetics. Her clinical work focuses on finding a unifying genetic diagnosis for children with rare neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research is informed by her patients and focuses on understanding how genetic changes, in particular those affecting mitochondrial function, cause disease so we can develop better treatments for these children in the future.

Dr. Hakonarson is director of the Center for Applied Genomics and professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He leads a $40 million commitment from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to genomically characterize approximately 100,000 children, an initiative that has gained nationwide attention in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, Nature, and Science.

Dr. Broedur’s research interests focus on nanoparticle drug delivery and cancer predisposition. He is also interested in identifying novel cancer predisposition genes, and developing enhanced surveillance techniques to identify cancer early in predisposed individuals with the hope of improving outcome and reducing side effects.

Dr. Ahrens-Nicklas works to understand why patients with inherited biochemical disorders often suffer severe, untreatable neurologic and cardiac symptoms. She strives to elucidate the link between biochemistry and network excitability, in order to drive new approaches to therapy.

Dr. Blobel investigates the fundamental mechanisms involving transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and higher order chromatin. He is gearing his basic science discoveries towards genetic and epigenetic treatment modalities. In addition, Dr. Blobel is interested in mechanism of epigenetic memory.

Dr. Ghanem investigates the impact of transcriptional gene expression controls and mRNA processing upon the severity and progression of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Bassing's research program focuses on the genetic, epigenetic, and biochemical mechanisms by which mammals develop their immune systems while suppressing autoimmunity and genomic aberrations that cause leukemia or lymphoma.

Dr. Stanley’s lab has identified many of the genes and syndromes associated with congenital hyperinsulinism including ABCC8, GCK, GLUD1, and Turner and Beckwith syndromes. Working with clinical and rodent model studies, his lab team has identified distinctive phenotypes of these disorders, including diazoxide unresponsiveness, leucine sensitivity, and protein sensitivity. Dr. Stanley continues to seek new diagnostic and treatment paradigms for infants with acquired and genetic disorders of hyperinsulinism.