The Duke School of Medicine Precision Genomics Collaboratory (PGC) held the fourth annual Genomics Scientific Retreat on December 13 in the Trent Semans Center Great Hall. The event showcased two keynote speakers; 13 short talks; over 25 posters from trainees, research staff, and junior faculty; a poster pitch session, and chances to network with others interested in genomic research.
Dan Rader, MD, chief of the Division of Human Genetics, Seymour Gray Professor of Molecular Medicine, chair of the department of genetics, and chief of the division of translational medicine and human genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was the first keynote speaker. Rader studies human genetics to identify novel pathways in metabolic and cardiovascular phenotypes and diseases. During his keynote address, he spoke about how to advance genomic medicine to prevent and treat cardiometabolic disease.
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Beth Sullivan, PhD, was our second keynote speaker. Sullivan is also the associate dean of research training and a professor of cell biology. Her research focuses on how chromosomes are organized into inherited chromatin domains. She is working to better understand mechanisms of formation and behavior of chromosome abnormalities associated with birth defects, reproductive abnormalities, and cancer. In her keynote address, she discussed repetitive DNA, centromere adaptation and chromosome inheritance.
Among the 13 oral presentations from graduate students, postdoctoral and other fellows, research staff, and early-stage investigators, the top three received awards to help fund their research:
- Boxun Li | Postdoctoral Fellow, Gersbach Lab
Functional genomics maps the gene regulatory mechanisms downstream of neuron-astrocyte interactions - Jessica Regan | Fellow, Shah Lab
Multi-Omic Approaches to Pericoronary and Epicardial Adipose Tissue - Jeffrey Russ | Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Pathogenic variants associated with speech/cognitive delay and seizures affect genes with expression
This year, poster presenters had the opportunity to give a poster pitch during the morning session. For those who chose to participate, they had one minute and one slide to pitch their science to encourage people to visit their poster.
Posters were judged by retreat attendees on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the highest score. Attendees had the opportunity to judge as many posters as they liked, and each poster they judged entered them into a raffle for a prize. The top three posters received awards:
- Molly Albright | Research Technician, San Roman Lab
HiChIP-ing Away at Sex Differences: Investigating the 3D Genome and Sex-Biased Gene Expression - Nelanne Bolima | Post-baccalaureate Researcher
Restoring Genome Wide Expression Balance in Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies through a CRISPER-dCas12 Editing Platform - Enya Dewars | Graduate Student, Landstrom Lab
Determining the role of TRPV4 in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
