BBI is collaborating with Illumina, Inc. and GeneDx, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BioReference Laboratories, Inc., to study early detection of developmental differences in children. The project, SeqFirst, will provide early access to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to 100 children suspected of having developmental differences at the point of diagnosis. Scientists anticipate this will lead to earlier, more rapid diagnoses, as…
New research has uncovered a way SARS coronaviruses delay an immune defense against them. The coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003 and the one causing the current pandemic may prevent cells from responding to infection in a similar manner. They do this by making a viral protein that keeps molecules from moving through pores in the membrane that…
Today’s installment is with BBI member Dr. Alice Berger, an assistant professor in the Human Biology Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center BBI: To start, could you tell us a little bit about the focus of your work, and how you view it as relating to precision medicine? Dr. Berger: I got involved in cancer research because I was really…
The Allen Institute and BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced a collaboration today that will use technologies developed at the Allen Institute to create new gene therapies aimed at rare genetic diseases of the central nervous system. BioMarin will receive an exclusive license to each program for research, development and commercialization. The organizations did not disclose financial terms. It is increasingly understood…
Virologist Dr. Julie Overbaugh, who studies factors that shape HIV transmission, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. “Julie has spent decades leading the field in identifying the biology behind the body’s immunologic response to the HIV virus, and clinical trials for HIV in Africa,” said Dr. Eric Holland, who directs the Human Biology Division and Seattle Translational Tumor Research.” We are…
Four University of Washington faculty members are among the leaders in academia, business, philanthropy, the humanities and the arts elected as 2021 fellows of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. The UW fellows are James A. Banks, professor emeritus of education; David Battisti, professor of atmospheric sciences; P. Dee Boersma, professor of biology; and Richard G.…
One of the biggest challenges in Alzheimer’s research is to identify biomarkers that can determine who is at risk of developing dementia. Such biomarkers could be used to screen people so they might be helped before they develop dementia. Researchers have focused primarily on three such biomarkers. Two are Alzheimer’s-related proteins, amyloid and tau. Amyloid forms clumps in brains, and…
Julie Theriot, UW Biology Professor, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences(link is external). The National Academy of Sciences announced today the election of 120 members — 59 of whom are women, the most elected in a single year — and 30 international members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. “The…
Two Department of Global Health faculty have been selected to lead the University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Professor Connie Celum and associate professor Ruanne Barnabas have been announced as the next Director and Co-Director, respectively. Both appointments are active as of April 1, 2021. Under the leadership of Barnabas and Celum, CFAR will further its mission to advance the treatment, detection,…
BBI’s Scientific Director Dr. Jay Shendure and Principal Investigator Dr. Helen Chu briefed Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Friday (April 16th) on the institute’s work regarding the Seattle Flu Study, progress on studying COVID-19 transmission and variants, and other issues. Dr. Paul Ramsey, UW Medicine CEO, also participated in the 25-minute meeting at the UW Medicine Virology Lab in Seattle.…