Precision Medicine
February 14, 2019
When the shoelaces fray: short telomere syndromes
Unlike gray hair, one of the most significant signs of aging is invisible to the naked eye. Deep inside cells, at the tips of thread-like chromosomes, structures known as telomeres protect chromosomes from deterioration—a bit like the way caps at the ends of shoelaces prevent fraying. Telomeres naturally shorten as people age. But sometimes, an […]
Tags: #Bone marrow failure, #Dr. Mrinal Patnaik, #short telomeres, aging, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Premyeloid
February 8, 2019
Personalized diets: foods shaped to your lifestyle, genetics and gut
Have you ever wondered why some people can eat all they want and never gain weight while others exercise and watch what they eat but still can’t shed a pound? The clue may lie partly in your gut microbiome, the complex community of bacteria within the digestive tract that is genetically different in each person. […]
Tags: #blood glucose, #diabetes, #Dr. Vivek Iyer, #obesity, #personalized diet, #personalized nutrition, #weight loss, Dr. Helena Mendes Soares, Dr. Purna Kashyap, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
February 4, 2019
Meet Chuanhe Yu, Ph.D.: searching for the genetic switches linked to disease
By Sharon Rosen 
Chuanhe Yu, Ph.D. has always had an interest in genetics – the thousands of genes that make each of us unique. His research focuses on the growing field of epigenetics, which aims to better understand how environmental and lifestyle factors cause chain reactions, flipping the switch on genes and the instructions they provide to guide […]
Tags: #cancer biology, #cell biology, #DNA replication, #Dr. Chuanhe Yu, #epigenetics, #epigenome, #eSPAN model, #Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine Epigenomics Program, cancer, center for individualized medicine, Epigenomics, mayo clinic
January 28, 2019
Triumph out of tragedy: A home screening test for cervical cancer
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on personalized approaches to preventing or treating cervical cancer. Harrowing stories of rampant sexual violence and high instances of cervical cancer in the Democratic Republic of Congo spurred Marina Walther-Antonio, Ph.D. to action. The emotional stories of survival and death triggered her desire to discover […]
Tags: #Cervical cancer, #Cervical cancer screening, #Democratic Republic of Congo, #HPV, #HPV screening, center for individualized medicine, Dr. Marina Walther-Antonio
January 21, 2019
Test offers hope for people with severe kidney disease
Optimal treatment requires knowing what caused a medical condition. If your arm is broken because you fell, a simple cast might be enough. But if a tumor in your bone made it brittle, you need very different treatment. For people with a rare kidney condition—known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)—identifying the cause is critical. Patients […]
Tags: #Dr. Fernando Fervenza, #Dr. Ladan Zand, #focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, #kidney disease, #kidney transplant, DNA Testing, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Precision Medicine
January 14, 2019
Using brain organoids to uncover causes of neuropsychiatric disorders
Mayo Clinic and Yale University collaborated in a study published in Science to create a new model for studying neuropsychiatric disorders in early human brain development. This unique collaboration brought together Mayo Clinic’s team-based, patient-centered research with Yale researchers to discover and analyze the genetic mechanisms that may cause these disorders. The Mayo Clinic team, […]
Tags: Alexej Abyzov, autism, brain organoids, mayo clinic, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, neuropsychiatric disorders, Ph.D., Research, Yale University
January 7, 2019
What do Yellowstone rocks teach us about kidney stones?
Mayo Clinic researchers are turning to Yellowstone National Park to unlock the secrets of kidney stones. Medical science long has been mystified by a cause and cure for this painful condition that affects more than 1 in 10 Americans. Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine and NASA Astrobiology Institute research finds kidney stones grow in dynamic […]
Tags: #Kidney stones, #NASA Astrobiology Institute, #Yellowstone National Park, Dr. Nicholas Chia, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, microbiome
January 3, 2019
Mayo Clinic discovers biological markers that could guide treatment for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in American men, other than skin cancer.* Statistics from the American Cancer Society show approximately 1 in 9 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some time in their lives. Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine-sponsored research released today may help families facing difficult […]
Tags: George Vasmatzis Ph.D., Gleason pattern 3 prostate cancer, John Cheville M.D., Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine Biomarker Discovery Program, Prostate Cancer
December 31, 2018
The growing role of genetic nurses: educating, empowering patients
By Sharon Rosen
As genetic sequencing has become faster and cheaper, more people are considering predictive genetic testing to identify their future risk for disease, with the goal of taking charge of their health. Yet many face the challenge of understanding which genetic testing option would fit their health goals. While genetic counselors have traditionally helped patients through […]
Tags: #Corinne Berg, #genetic counselor shortage, #genetic nurses, #Genetics education, #hereditary diseases, #hereditary heart disease, #predictive genomics, #preemptive pharmacogenomics, #Therese Hughes, DNA Testing, Genetic Counselors, genomics
December 24, 2018
The priceless gift of knowing your family health history
With New Year’s resolutions right around the corner, it is likely one of your resolutions will be focused on your health. Most of us want to eat healthier foods, exercise more, lose weight, and reduce stress. But, have you ever considered diving deeper into understanding your health conditions and how your DNA—your very own genetic […]
Tags: #PrecisionMedicine, DNA Sequencing, dna test, genomics education, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine