Last weekend PNRI opened our laboratories to the public. Excitement reverberated on every floor as people enjoyed this opportunity to see genetics research up-close, free of charge. Supporters traversed the halls where some of the brightest minds in genetic research spend their work week.
From Cancer Evolution to Predicting Diabetes
On the top floor, Dr. Michael Metzger and his team explained how they traced the lineage of a contagious cancer in clams and cockles back over 400 years of evolution. Mouths were agape as lab members demonstrated how they care for live marine bivalves in the lab and displayed collected samples under the microscope.
Down the hall, scientists at the helm of PNRI’s work on the TEDDY Study shared findings that can improve prediction and treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and autoimmunity in children. TEDDY–The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young–is a first-of-its kind international collaboration to identify environmental factors associated with an increased risk of T1D and autoimmune disorders like celiac disease. This work has been at the heart of our institute for over 20 years, and it was an honor to share that progress with so many on Saturday.
Dr. Michael Metzger explains his lab’s research on transmissible cancer found in shellfish.
