Genome Research: What's Next?

UW professor speaks about cutting-edge research leading to possible cures for diseases

Contact: Amy Gautschi (206) 685-9221
agautsch@u.washington.edu

//FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE//

SEATTLE (May 1, 2002)—With recent success in sequencing human DNA, will disease soon be a thing of the past? Stanley Fields, chair of genome sciences and professor of medicine at the University of Washington, provides insight into this escalating area of inquiry at a free lecture on the UW campus, Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. in Kane Hall. Beyond the Genome: Deciphering What All the Proteins Do to Make a Living explores current research into cures for human diseases, in the third lecture of the 2002 UW Science Forum, "Exploring Our World: Large and Small."

Because alterations in protein function underlie most human diseases, the role of proteins—the building blocks of life—within disease progression is of utmost importance for the future of medical research. Using yeast cultures, Fields and his colleagues are developing simple genetic strategies that will analyze the function of proteins. They will apply what they learn from their work with yeast to the study of and cure for human diseases such as malaria.

The 2002 UW Science Forum offers free, public lectures that highlight renowned UW scientists and are designed to be understood easily by anyone with a high school science background. Lectures are held from 7:00-8:15 p.m. in room 130 of Kane Hall on the UW Seattle campus.

Advance registration is required. To register or get more information, log on to www.scienceforum.washington.edu or call (206) 543-3839. The series is presented by the University of Washington Alumni Association, the UW College of Arts & Sciences, College of Engineering and School of Medicine, and is part of WRF Capital's Celebration Series.

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