Director: Paul De Bakker
http://www.broad.mit.edu/personal/debakker/
The Genomics program of the HU CFAR started in the Fall of 2007. The primary goal of the Genomics program since its inception has been to survey the overall need and interest for applying genomic techniques and statistical methods to ongoing HIV/AIDS research projects.
After reaching out to a number of laboratories across Harvard, we conclude that there is a great need for offering genomics services (including but not limited to viral sequencing, host genomics, gene expression profiling).
We have also organized the Annual Symposium of the HU CFAR around the theme of human genomics, with the aim to highlight current advances in the field and identify potential opportunities for HU CFAR researchers. The Annual Symposium and mini-workshop are scheduled for 9-10 April 2008, respectively, and are co-hosted by the Harvard Initiative for Global Health. We have invited leading investigators (from Boston and elsewhere), some leaders in human genetics and others in HIV/AIDS research (who have successfully embedded genetic tools in their work). Lastly, we have added a round-table discussion with regard to TB in the context of HIV, and how genomic approaches may be instrumental in learning more about drug resistance and general outcome of co-infection.
As part of the Symposium, we have also set up a mini-workshop at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, to provide investigators with an opportunity to have “hands-on” experience with using some of the tools and methods for analyzing whole-genome data sets, with the aim to give an introduction to computational approaches in human disease genetics.
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revolutionised our understanding of the genetic basis of human diseases. Science Magazine picked this field as Breakthrough of the Year in 2007. These GWAS have resulted in the discovery of DNA sequence variations in scores of genes associated with common diseases, many of which reflect unexpected, novel findings. The Broad Institute contributed to many such studies, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, autism with more studies underway. The Broad is currently performing a genome-wide association study (analysis is led by the Program Director, Dr Paul de Bakker, Brigham and Women's Hospital) in HIV Controllers, as part of an International collaborative study led by Dr Bruce Walker at the Partners AIDS Research Center of Massachusetts General Hospital.
In the coming year, we will (1) continue to evaluate how existing HIV/AIDS research programs across HU CFAR can be augmented through incorporation of genomic approaches, and (2) plan to provide researchers with general access to core services (like microarray gene expression, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping etc.) not only through existing platforms offered at the Dana Farber and Harvard Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics but also through the large-scale high-throughput platforms at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
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