Washington University, St. Jude team to unravel genetic basis of childhood cancers

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have announced an unprecedented effort to identify the genetic changes that give rise to some of the world’s deadliest childhood cancers. The team has joined forces to decode the genomes of more than 600 childhood cancer patients, who have contributed tumor samples for this historic effort.

The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project is the largest investment to date — estimated to cost $65 million over three years — aimed at understanding the genetic origins of childhood cancers. Scientists involved in the project will sequence the entire genomes of both normal and cancer cells from each patient, comparing differences in the DNA to identify genetic mistakes that lead to cancer. Kay Jewelers, a long-standing supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, has committed to providing $20 million as lead sponsor of this project.

READ MORE

Mechanism that helps humans see in bright and low light discovered

Ever wonder how your eyes adjust during a blackout?

When we go from light to near total darkness, cells in the retina must quickly adjust. School of Medicine vision scientists have identified an intricate process that allows the human eye to adapt to darkness very quickly. The same process also allows the eye to function in bright light.

The discovery could contribute to a better understanding of human diseases that affect the retina, including age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50. That's because the disease and the pathway the researchers have identified both involve cells called cone cells.

"Age-related macular degeneration may be modulated, perhaps, through this pathway researchers have identified in the retina," said principal investigator Vladimir J. Kefalov, Ph.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and principal investigator. "Deficiencies in this pathway affect cone cells, and so does macular degeneration, so it's possible that if we could enhance activity in this pathway, we could prevent or reverse some of that damage to cone cells," Kefalov said.

READ MORE

Robert Kranz: a lifetime's exploration of an important molecule may have a big payoff

David Kilper/WUSTL photo
(Left to right) Cindy Richard-Fogal, Ph.D., research scientist in biology in Arts & Sciences, Elaine Frawley, graduate research assistant, and Robert Kranz, Ph.D., professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, examine an E. coli culture. Kranz has been funded continuously by NIH for 24 years.

Robert Kranz has devoted much of his career to understanding cytochrome c, one of the most interesting of a large group of biological molecules called the cytochromes.

Few people have heard of the cytochromes, much less of cytochrome c. But if these molecules were suddenly to stop working, we would fall over dead. The cyanide pill the trapped spy crushes between his teeth kills him because the cyanide binds to cytochrome, preventing it from doing its job.

When Kranz first turned his attention to these molecules, scientists thought there was only one system (or biological pathway) for making cytochrome c. Now, thanks largely to his work, we know there are three different pathways.

READ MORE

Danforth plant center wins $44 million award for algae-biofuel research

The administration of President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that a consortium led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis is the winner of a $44 million Recovery Act award for research into converting algae into biofuels.

The Energy Department grant to the Danforth Center-led effort is among the largest awards or tax credits to be received in the bi-state region under the $787 billion stimulus package approved by Congress last year.

READ MORE

Diversity Research Scholars Application Available

The Diversity Research Scholars Visit is a 2-day recruitment experience for exceptional individuals interested in pursuing postdoctoral training in the biomedical sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for late career graduate students and early career postdocs from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the sciences to showcase their research and learn more about Washington University and St. Louis.

As a Diversity Research Scholar Visit participant, you will:

- Present a scientific poster to the Washington University research community

- Meet one-on-one with WU faculty members of your choosing (http://dbbs.wustl.edu/facultyresearch)

- Hear scientific talks from WU faculty on their research areas

- Learn about WU professional & career development programs from WU postdocs and staff

- Network with WU faculty, postdocs, graduate students and staff

- Gain exposure to some of the nation's finest biomedical investigators and an extensive variety of research topics

For more information and to access the Application, Click Here