Precision Medicine
September 15, 2020
Mayo scientists develop mathematical index to distinguish healthy microbiome from diseased
By Susan Murphy 
What causes some people to develop chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and metabolic syndrome while others stay healthy? A major clue could be found in their gut microbiome — the trillions of microbes living inside the digestive system that regulate various bodily functions. To utilize the huge population of tiny organisms as a […]
Tags: bacteria, Gut Microbiome, individualized medicine, Microbiome Program
September 10, 2020
Mayo researcher finds potential microbial pathway to treat IBS symptoms, lessen abdominal pain
By Susan Murphy
Mayo Clinic researchers have found new evidence linking the millions of bacteria residing in our digestive systems, known as the microbiome, to a network of factors that drive irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The findings, published in the Sept. 10, 2020 issue of Cell, raise the possibility of targeting the newly discovered microbial pathways to improve […]
Tags: individualized medicine, irritable bowel syndrome, microbiome, multi-omics
September 9, 2020
Mayo Clinic research advances diagnostics to lead COVID-19 pandemic response
By Susan Murphy
When COVID-19 spread across the U.S. in early March, Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) urgently responded. Lab spaces were transitioned, staff reassigned and funding approvals were fast-tracked. Its goals were to accelerate research, development, translation and implementation of novel tests in order to discover life-saving treatments and diagnostics. “ADL houses a lab structure for […]
Tags: covid-19, diagnostic tests, Discovery Square
August 28, 2020
2020 Gerstner Awards boost research in AI cancer algorithms, neurodegenerative diseases
By Susan Murphy
Veronique Belzil, Ph.D., assistant professor in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Neuroscience in Jacksonville, Fla., and Feichen Shen, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics in Rochester, Minn., are this year’s recipients of the Gerstner Family Career Development Awards. The competitive awards are presented annually by Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine to researchers who are early […]
Tags: #Gerstner Family Career Development Award, ALS, artificial intelligence, Gerstner Family Foundation
August 25, 2020
By Susan Murphy
By Terri Malloy Heart patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or stent placement― nonsurgical procedures to improve blood flow to the heart ― are typically prescribed anti-platelet therapy to avoid blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. New research from the international TAILOR-PCI trial, the largest pharmacogenetics clinical trial in […]
Tags: #cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, individualized medicine, pharmacogenomics
August 17, 2020
Mayo Clinic and Middlesex Health partner to transform genetic cancer research
By Susan Murphy
By Alyson Gonzalez What began as an inquiry sparked during a research brainstorming session, evolved into meaningful collaboration for a community cancer center in Connecticut. Through the Mayo Clinic Care Network relationship, Middlesex Health and Mayo Clinic are working together to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families through impactful research. Approximately one […]
Tags: breast cancer
August 12, 2020
Could population genetic screening improve public health?
Hereditary BRCA-related breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia are estimated to be relatively prevalent in the general population but poorly found using traditional risk screening. In a typical medical practice, genetic testing for these conditions is based on personal or family history, ethnic background or other demographic characteristics, that may not always […]
Tags: #Familial hypercholesterolemia, breast cancer, Dr. Matthew Ferber, lynch syndrome, mayo clinic, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, ovarian cancer, population health genomics, Research
August 4, 2020
COVID-19 “Live” Virus Research In a Specialized Lab
By Sara Tiner 
To solve the challenges presented by COVID-19, it’s important to look to the past. History shows that collaboration is the way forward when uncovering secrets of an emerging virus. It is vital for many reasons, a key one being safety. Only a few labs can safely handle a “live,” meaning infectious, sample. No one knows […]
Tags: covid-19
July 6, 2020
By Susan Murphy
By Dana Sparks As COVID-19 continues to cause concern and consume people’s lives across the globe, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, offers some insights and answers on the status of the pandemic. Scientists around the world are working feverishly on vaccines, what’s the status of vaccine research? The U.S. Food […]
Tags: covid-19
July 1, 2020
By Susan Murphy
In recognition of their high impact work of advancing the field of genetic risk profiling for disease risk stratification, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Mayo Clinic researchers Iftikhar Kullo, M.D. and Richard Sharp Ph.D. part of $75 million in funding over five years to improve the role of genomics in assessing and […]
Tags: Bioethics, Cardiovascular Disease, Genetics