Article by Sara Damore

Jeffrey Tyner, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at Oregon Health & Science University, will join several precision cancer care leaders from across the country at the annual Individualizing Medicine Conference. Dr. Tyner will present “Precision Therapy through Functional Genomics in Hematologic Malignancies.”

Dr. Tyner’s research has helped shape the landscape of cancer care as he identifies cancer-causing gene targets in patients with cancer and precision genetic therapies. Last year he published an analysis of the genomic composition and unique tumor response to 122 drug therapies, the largest cancer dataset of its kind. His data was made available to other researchers using  a novel data visualization platform (Vizome).

New treatment approaches for a rare and deadly cancer

Dr. Tyner’s research utilizes a unique functional screening approach, which he has spent the past decade developing. The process involves ex vivo sampling from patients with hematologic malignancy to screen genes and cell signaling pathways responsible for cancer cell growth using a library of small-molecule inhibitors. His test has now been used to help over 2,000 patients, a critical component of care for patients with hematologic malignancies.

His research has played a key role in gaining a better understanding of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — a rare and deadly cancer with an approximately 28% five-year survival rate with 20,000 new cases each year.  The treatment of AML has remained largely unchanged over time, which makes genomic research crucial to identifying new therapy targets.

Connecting cancer experts across the globe

The cancer and immunotherapy focus of this year’s Individualizing Medicine conference will bring together oncology researchers, practitioners, and experts from across the globe. Attendees will network with and learn from leaders in cancer care as they cover topics such as CAR T-Cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, epigenetic markers, and immunotherapy. The course will also include three unique pre-conference sessions:

• Drugs and Genes: Pharmacogenomics for the Modern Healthcare Team
• Basic Science of Immunotherapy, and Advanced Molecular Oncology Testing: A Focus on Next Generation Sequencing Panels
• Novel Genetic Technologies

For more information and a complete schedule and list of speakers, please visit the conference website.

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Tags: #acute myeloid leukemia, #CIMCon19, #Dr. Jeffrey Tyner, #Functional Genomics, #targeted therapies, blood cancers, Cancer, center for individualized medicine, genomics, hematolgic malignancies, Individualizing Medicine Conference 2019, mayo clinic, Oregon Health and Science University, Precision Medicine, Research