October 4, 2001
Centers for Excellence in Genomic Science: UW Genome Center
(See features story for an overall look at the two UW grants for research based on the genome.)
The principal investigator is Dr. Maynard V. Olson, professor of genetics and medicine and adjunct professor of computer science.
The goal of this center is to study how one person’s genome is different from another person’s, and how these differences affect their health.
Some of our personal characteristics are inherited, while others are acquired by our unique experiences. However, scientific knowledge of these issues is surprisingly slight – scientists basically have no idea what blend of nature and nurture produces a Tiger Woods, an Albert Einstein or any one of us. Goals of this grant include:
Reduction of the cost of analyzing the medically relevant variation in an individual’s genome. It currently costs hundreds of millions of dollars to analyze one person’s genome in detail. This cost must be brought down to a few hundred dollars to make genetically personalized medicine practical.
Examination of the genetic record of primates. Other primates have been on the earth longer than humans, with a longer time scale of mutation and selection.
Study of genetic variation in the bacteria pseudomonas, which plagues cystic fibrosis patients. Each CF patient has a unique variant of pseudomonas. The goal of this research is to study that variation to find ways to attack the bacteria through its genetic structure.
Olson’s collaborators include:
- Dr. Joe Felsenstein, professor of genetics and adjunct professor of statistics and zoology.
- Dr. Phil Green, professor of molecular biotechnology and adjunct professor of computer science and engineering.
- Dr. Matthew Stephens, assistant professor of statistics.
- Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, professor of biostatistics and statistics.
